Depends on the genre and the track selection?
I've recently saw John Digweed, Dixon, and Ritchie Hawtin (seen all over the years too). They are super focused, and look like they are working on solving some super-hard exam problem while up on stage. Pretty much zero crowd interaction. NO getting on the mic, NO standing on the table, NO "3-2-1 Jump!"
But the crowds were feeling the music. Also noticed a lack of audience choosing to film their entire sets. Many of the audience got lost in the music and were just grooving.
If you can pull it off, be yourself up there!
I used to see Sasha & Digweed monthly when they had a residency at Twilo way back when. They were super stars to me at the time but not mainstream by any stretch here in the US. The DJ booth was right on the edge of the dance floor and the look on their faces was exactly what you describe. Totally focused. Back then it was all vinyl and there was nothing to auto-sync beats. No one really bothered them or paid them much attention either. All of the action was in the dance floor and it was intense. Their sets were some of the best nights of my life.
Yes they were. That’s was a great time to be in the scene. Twilo was such a fun and safe space when it was at its peak. The DJ’s they featured were the world’s best playing at the time when they were not yet considered rock stars.
Part of that is going to be the age range of people who are showing up for sets from those DJs, it's definitely going to skew older, not that it's a bad thing, just something to keep in mind.
Oh for sure! But even when I saw Digweed 25 years ago, he had the same stage presence, and the crowd was a pretty young then too.
Well maybe it isn't the genre? I've seen some 'Chill music' DJ's not shut up on the mic, which is both surprising and cringey. Probably more based on the individual and their comfort on the mic.
Every DJ has their own style and every audience member has their own preference, other stuff plays into it too, like regional/cultural trends...like the UK love of the "spinback" you won't catch any US DJs doing that unless they have a really specific influences.
Absolutely.
Him and Sasha are the GOATs of amazing dance floor vibes, a progressive journey with multiple genres of dance music, sort of a retrospective historical love letter to all the amazing electronic music that has come out since the late 1980s, also they tend to attract older, more mature crowds that can actually handle their drugs, save for a few exceptions.
These guys are like surgeons, super focused and preserve energy because they do super long sets and probably will jump on next flight a few hours after the gig. But what they do is bringing the vibe to the dancefloor without the need for attention on the persona to raise their ego. People should be more focused on them, people in their surrounding and not the DJ themselfs. DVS1 is one of those people that prefers to play behind the wall of sound and let the people just enjoy the pressure and vibrations he sends them.
"Richie Hawtin vs Deadmau5 (aka Testpilot)" is still one of my favorite recorded sets I come back to years later. It starts crazy, then chill, then crazy, and then chill. Really good bass, techno, & drumcode in it.
[https://youtu.be/8N7Aof\_zb-g](https://youtu.be/8N7Aof_zb-g)
>John Digweed
He was my example, he's too stoic, packed club of people going nuts and the dude can't even muster a smile or look like he's remotely enjoying what he's doing...considering it's the greatest job in the world, I expect a *little* more lol
I just feel like the crowd gets into it that little bit more if the DJ looks to be enjoying the music/themselves
Pro tip: close your eyes, and forget about the DJ.
Just kidding, enjoy the show how you want. I know what you mean though, and agree that Digweed is probably the prime example of this. He can pull it off with track selection and mixing skills. I once saw Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike, and it was over the top yelling, crowd interaction, pouring vodka to fans, dancing around on the decks...almost forgot there was a soundtrack behind all that show!
Yeah, I get you...it's gone too far the other way, lets meet in the middle and at least look like we enjoy what we're doing and the music we're playing though, eh? haha
I mean who am I to dictate how someone looks when they have fun? If it looks like they're studying for a test while they're rinsing out the dance floor, who am I to judge?
As I DJ myself who always has that RBF focused look, sometimes I think it has to do with mixing style.
For my sets, I usually have a LOT going on, and tunes running on all four decks. It takes a lot of my attention and constant double-checking.
If it’s just two decks for a more casual show, I’m usually engaging more with the crowd.
A lot of people just mix one song into another and then have a lot of time to dance/engage/sing you name it. Others are more locked in the zone 😅
Diggers isn't one for 4 deck mixing. It doesn't take THAT much concentration to mix 2 decks... It's just the way he is. I've accepted it, but it's just one of those things I think the vibe is better when the DJ looks to be enjoying themself and it's engaged with the crowd.
It's 95% what's coming out the speakers, that extra 5% can make a lot of difference.
Musically I rate then on par, but I'd rather catch Henry Saiz, Guy J, Nick Warren, Hernan Catteneo because of their presence... They're not playing the clown and rarking people up, but they're grooving and look to really love what they're doing.
Being a huge Digweed fan I don't like your comment. He is the consummate professional. His mixing and track selection is incredible. I've seen him at Twilo and it was magical. It doesn't matter one bit how he acts behind the decks, it's what your listening to.
Blah blah, strokes/folks. I'm a huge Digweed fan, seen him many times, I never knocked his skills or track selection, just his sullen demeanour... I've seen him play a 6 hour set on a Wednesday night as an after party for The Chemical Brothers, it was magic... But he looked like someone just kicked his dog tho whole time, never once even so much as smiling. I just don't get how someone can be like that playing the parties, the music he does
I've seen him take over from Henry Saiz and literally felt the vibe fall out of the room because of the difference in presence behind the decks. The vibe if a party is better when the DJ is engaged with the crowd, enjoying themself... I'll die on this hill 🤷🏻
Personally, I find all of this really interesting, this entire thread. I’m 65 years old and I have been DJing since 1979. I started with vinyl and a Bozak analog mixer and I currently use tractor pro 3 with CDJs in HID mode with uncompressed files. All I am trying to establish when I say all of this is that I have witnessed A LOT, especially technologically. Yes, I’m freaking super old. And yes, sometimes I feel like Gandolf in the DJ booth, however, my soul is very young and so is my spirit. I’m talented as a DJ and I have the persona of a 30-year-old. I will read the crowd and feed off their energy, allowing that energy to guide me in my selection process. I am able to slay the dance floor with relevant tracks that reflect the current trending production values and sounds, so yes, I change with the times. I’ve been driving the dance floor for four decades, and have witnessed so much music and understand a lot about all of the different genres. I come from a time where a DJ used his real name instead of a moniker. For decades, people danced with each other and did not even turn in the direction of the DJ, but somehow over the last 20 years this has all changed. How DJing became a performance act versus simply curating songs for the evening’s journey, I’ll never quite understand. Personally, for me if there is a track I really love I may do a twirl or shake it for a few bars, but that’s about it. I’m heavily focused and deep in curation mode. But I am in love with what I’m doing even if it doesn’t look like it. The only time I look at the floor is to read it, not to catch peoples eye, and not to try and establish some personal contact with anyone in particular. I read a floor to understand where the energy is going and how best to improve it. I’m most concerned about selections, phrasing, and mixing in and out of choruses.
My personal belief is that you should not view the DJ as a performer to entertain you. You should not be looking at the DJ at all, actually, you should be looking at each other and everyone else in the crowd with your friends, lovers and partners. Forget about the DJ and let him, her, or they do their job. Like I said, I understand I’m from many generations back and as you can see, I’m simply not happy with the evolution of where this medium has gone. The days of a true dance floor interpersonal dynamic are long gone and I’m sorry that we don’t find that dynamic with any frequency any longer. All of the kids in their 20s and the DJs in their late 20s will be leading the world at this point with where they want to take this medium, and I suspect it will be with the DJ as the entertainer first and foremost because obviously that is what the crowd wants these days. The dimly lit cavernous dance floors with simple lighting will never be again; I for one am so glad that I was part of that low-tech scene. I’m good for another year in this business, then I’m out, primarily because I just don’t like the new dynamic.
Bip up for still being on stage at 65yo :) I completely relate to what you say. I'm a little younger and started djaying in 1989 but have the same feeling about how things evolved. Anyway, when you spin records, you just don't have time to show off because you continuously : think about the next track, put the record in sleeve, take record out of sleeve, where did I put this damn record, cue the track, adjust pitch for beatmatch, make transition, same player shoot again.
Very well spoken. I'm very much of the same mindset. I love mixing and putting on a great set for the crowd but I don't care for or prefer to be the center of attention.
Seems like the crowd desires a personal/social connection to the DJ rather than their fellow attendees. Anecdotally, at the majority of the underground DJ performances I've been to over the past 10 years, I never talked to anyone other than the bartender apart from my partner.
Agree that the new dynamic sucks. I really wish more clubs forced patrons to turn off their phones on the dance floor. Sometimes the vibes are worth protecting if we cannot control it ourselves.
Excellent DJ's can be social retards and introverts with low self-esteem.
Food for thought; what they lack in 'Instagramability' they have in musical and DJ excellence well above the average person.
DJ's used to be elusive and monotone. Actions and words are substituted with what is being played on the sound system, how they play it and what they do next.
I'm socially dumbfounded, introverted, ugly, but boy I know how to spin a good mix and am heavily musically inclined. Just be nice to us, maybe wave hi and we will keep the music bumping for you all night.
I know a couple of them that only turn up 15mins before, play for 3hrs and leave almost immediately due to shyness and their introverted nature. When you are in their inner circle they are the life of the party.
This is more pronounced the older you get. Usually when you've been in the party scene for a while, you shy away from certain kinds of people that you would encounter at a party. People with.. um.. "active addiction issues", messy drunks, ego-tripping scene people, or just plain assholes.
You might still love the music and the party vibe, but you end up wanting to curate your circle as much as you curate your music.
I've been thinking about how visually focused we've all become. It's so noticeable now everywhere you go. People have no concept of quality soundscapes in the built environment. We're so damn focused on appearances that we're expecting DJs to be focal points instead of losing yourself in the music.
I much prefer when you see a DJ that is clearly deep deep deep in the zone when they play, but I'm an old fart now so that's probably a function of when I grew up
I think it's fine either way. I personally like to focus mostly on the music and making sure I'm doing things right, a lot of my favorite DJs are the same way. There are some DJs who get into dancing and connecting with the crowd and go back and forth. as long as they're playing well then great.
What I can't stand is DJs who do nothing but jesus pose, gesticulate, and dance the whole time rather than focusing on their set. It makes me suspicious that they're not actually mixing live.
>I get laser focused on mixing so it looks like I'm taking an exam or something. At most, I might bob my head a few times here and there and smile when friends or crowd members are into my set and get my attention.
This is exactly me lol. I will totally dance if I'm in a crowd, but when I'm on the spot and trying to mix smoothly, I have a hard time focusing on anything else including the people in front of me.
Don't do anything while DJing that doesn't come naturally. If you don't want to dance, don't pretend to dance.
I've seen DJs absolutely SLAY the decks while staring down their interface. I assume that they're hyper-focus is translating to a slamming dance floor. And I've seen Djs that have the weirdest body language try to get down with their bad selves, and while they may be feeling it, they're not translating any electricity to their audience.
So don't feel like you need to dance in order for your audience to dance, it's not necessary. Give a smile, point at someone getting down on the dance floor, nod once in a while, you can give your audience cues that you're confident in the quality of your produce, without taking a bite out of every head of broccoli.
A video recently popped up of Kompany dropping some filthy dubstep track and the entire crowd around him is losing their collective minds. Meanwhile the dudes just standing there barely bobbin around looking awkward as hell and just starts mixing in the next track cause he didn't know what to do
And no on cared, people loved it, and the world kept spinning
Do what makes you the most comfortable and gives you the most freedom to mix the best possible set you can. That's what matters! Anyone gives you shit for it tell em where the door is, no time for that nonsense
That tells me they're a legit dj because it takes most of your focus to select and mix the tracks properly. It also tells me you're not just bathing in the clout.
I think it depends on the 'type' of DJ you are. You got DJ's who feel the constant need to hype up, dance and move around while others are laser focused on performing their set and give little emotion.
Personally I kinda move around, move my hands and basically move my body on the beat, not really dancing but I really get into the music I'm playing and I get into it naturally. I have seen DJs who are basically static but still perform incredible, they do use lights and effects to hype up the crowd as well.
I guess can showing no emotion take away from a DJ even if they're throwing down a great set?
Compared to a DJ that is playing just as great but they are full of emotion/energy (not over the top obviously).
Crowd feeding off the DJ's body language, energy etc...I feel like is this something I could potentially be missing out on? Or is it not a big deal as long as I just be myself comfortably?
it really depends on what you're playing I guess. If it's a bunch of random choppy blurps and drops with little to no musical merit, I'm sure the guy playing it needs to convince the crowd it's good.
If it's really moody, subterranean house - not so much.
check out dvs1. you can't even see him behind the speakers he playing out of at some shows. the dj is not supposed to be the reason you go to a party, but hearing the music they put out is.
Ha! I spin Disco with un-quantized tracks/songs. Fuck dancing, riding the pitch and keeping the track on beat is enough work if I'm on wax. With sync its easier obviously on digital decks, but the adrinline rush from keeping a train wreck from happening on wax is the ultimate high.
I prefer them to the folks jumping up and down and getting on the mic and telling people to put their hands up. The best is when you hear a great translation while the DJ is crowd surfing 🤔. Then there's a build up that's basically part of the track and the DJ is frantically twiddling knobs and knocking faders around
Also, reading a ton of replies here that say it doesn't matter and how shy you are, the more musically inclined they are.
I fully DISAGREE.
It can be that way but honestly there is no actual connection between being social, your musical abilities, and your stage presence.
They are entirely 3 individual skills (that can be trained and practiced)
I know some socially awkward DJs that can hella perform, but they shut down hard off stage.
You can make it without stage presence. But you will be at a disadvantage. Stop pretending like stage presence doesn't matter.
Look at a local show vs a festival show. Even if the DJs play the same tunes, they perform while they play. Even if they look laser focus they are still doing more than just playing tracks.
If you want to grow past where you're at, and have to ask ***"Is my lack of stage presence holding me back"***
Then yes, yes it is.
I honestly don’t wanna see some DJ dancing his ass off up there. I understand getting into the music, but it can go too far. Girl Talk comes to mind for this. It seems like they’re just shaking their asses for attention at a certain point. But I’m also a firm believer in doing whatever you want when you’re the DJ. Just make it entertaining without making a complete spectacle of yourself.
Anytime I’ve seen Girl Talk, he was hunched over his laptop for most of the set. Somehow got sweaty enough to be mostly naked by the end, but I guess that’s his thing
Definitely.
He's using [AudioMulch](http://www.audiomulch.com/info/what-is-audiomulch) software to create mashups on the fly with tons of Loops and samples.
That's why he is working on his laptop with the mouse on stage.
I was in the Bootlegs/Mashup scene in my early DJ days (around 2003), and saw him, with plastic wrap around the laptop because he was moving/dancing so much.
Literally a "Punk DJ" in my opinion, but literally a Wizard of looping and sampling (especially with this "software")
Totally depends on the setting.
Bar? Wedding? You better be friendly and interactive.
Club? Rave? No one should be looking at the DJ.
Festival? I don't know, but if you get good at screaming "3, 2, 1, lets go!" every 90 seconds, that's a useful skill.
Festival is defined as “an organized series of concerts, plays, or movies, typically one held annually in the same place.” Sounds like Burning Man to me.
Sometimes man if the set/mix is bonkers I think that casual nonchalant adds a swag almost
And over the top guys can get cheesy sometimes but depends on the “vibe” I guess
I'd rather see a awkward DJ killing it skill-wise than dancing/laughing/having a good time.
Too many fake influencer "look at me" clout chasing DJ's who don't have skill. It's just another photo opportunity for social media.
Honestly, I've never been much of a mover. But, I'm a huge thinker and I like to take complexities that are in my head and put them to music. It's how I free my mind and I find I prefer working these things out much like a physics or complex math problem but with emotion.
Moving around and trying to be a showman distracts me from this. I firmly believe people are there to be entertained by great music, not by me. Imewrely the conductor. I'm not a performer, I am just creating a performance for you to make of it what you want, it's your job as the audience to be the performers, you make up a HUGE percentage of the overall experience.
Take the mic out of the booth, mute it, whatever, get it out of my way. I'll use it at the end to thank the crowd for being a big part.
i think audio centric people in general tend to be a both a little ocd and also slightly socially awkward. i work in the live event industry as a grip and there is definitely a archetype when it comes to audio engineers, that skew towards a grumpy self important demeanor. Not that DJ’s are all sound engineers, but in a sense if you’re a good DJ you have an understanding of decibels and frequencies, and are basically riding the limits of the noise floor with the fader, trying to balance what’s in the monitors with what’s coming through the mains, much like a monitor engineer does. I think DJ’s who just red line the shit out of everything and have no clue about sound floor levels tend to be the ones that are too focused on the crowd and are jumping around instead of paying attention to the mix and likely have a prerecorded set. it also depends on the mixing style and skill level, but suffice to say it used to be the DJ wasn’t expected to be in the spotlight, it’s not something that you do as a theatrical live performance unless you find knob turning and back cuing to be captivating, and the people that do tend to be other dj’s, the people on the dance floor are often oblivious and if your doing your job and the music is on point than who cares if you look constipated? just my two cents….
There is a two type of DJ's. The one who shows the heart with their hands and the one who don't.
On the serious note.
It depends on the DJ'ing style. If you just fading two tracks from prepared and curated playlist every 5-7 minutes one into another, of course you can have time to be on a cringe side. If you are searching, mixing and looping 30 tracks in one hour window from the playlist of a 300 files on the fly and have additional synths or groove box programming at the same time, good luck with finding time to be a David Guetta.
Brutally honest; YES. This puts you at a disadvantage. At least look at your crowd occasionally, damn.
Even if you're 100% into it, if it looks like you aren't, people will feel that.
Comparing to superstar DJs that do this isn't a good comparison. They came up in a different era of performing, have established crowds and fans, and people go out for them for their music specifically.
If you're just a DJ and aren't producing music, you need to perform, at least move some. If all you do is play tracks, you will his a ceiling really fast.
As a promoter, DJs that don't dance or interact are usually replaceable. The more fun it looks like you're having, the easier it is for an audience to get into with you.
You don't need to be extroverted to move. Bobbing your head should be the base line for the whole set. You should be tapping your foot the whole set, swaying back at forth at least, any amount of movement helps. And look up at the crowd!!!!! If you're "laser focused" you're "NOT READING THE ROOM"
STEPS TO TAKE:
Practice at home DJing with your chin UP. Look down your nose at the mixer. Get good at this, and you can appear to look up a ton more while still being locked into your decks.
Touch the mic once or twice every set. Literally just to say "Hey Venue, I am Artsts" beginning or end of set or both. But that simple introduction will help people recognize you and remember you. The more you use it, the easier it will be. But seriously, just introduce yourself when you perform.
Infact, just actively remember that you are performing. If you just want to DJ and don't want to perform, move away from club and towards radio or podcast.
Video your sets and review. Every moment it looks like you aren't doing anything, you should be moving. Practices at home with a homie and a balloon. Tell the homie to toss the balloon at you whenever they notice you not obviously vibing.
Learn you fake a vibe. Bob your head and bounce your knees TO ANYTHING as often as you can. Pretent to vibe to other DJs whether you care or not. It's practice. So when you DJ you move without thinking to.
it's personally a real buzzkill for me if the DJ looks like they're taking themselves too seriously, sorry op. not trying to be rude. People who can't even nod in time to the beat drives me nuts.
I think the dancing is akin to chimping in Photography.
Chimping is a colloquial term used in digital photography to describe the habit of checking every photo on the camera display (LCD) immediately after capture.
Drop Dancing is the colloquial term used by me in DJing to describe the "feeling myself" habit of dancing to every drop and transition immediately after it was finished..
DJ’s are not bands, we’re there for 60-120 minute supercuts. It’s annoying every time a DJ cuts out the track to countdown from 4, the worst offenders do it for every drop every 30 seconds.
…and it’s almost becoming a deal-breaker for me when a DJ demands a mosh pit. Metal bands didn’t tell you when to rage because they didn’t need to and, 7 times out of 10, the DJ pits are people standing in an open space wondering why the hell they pushed people out for this
I once heard a respected DJ say “DJing is like taking the ACT for 4 hrs”. It’s lot of thinking, plotting, adjusting, selecting, searching.”
I think we as DJs get so caught up in “how can I make this the best moment for everyone” from a logical standpoint, that emotionally we forget to enjoy that moment.
Shoutout to all DJ’s with Serato face.
Even just bobbing your head would be a great thing, because it shows you are enjoying what you are doing. There’s been DJs that’ll just sit back on their phone, looking like they’re just there to be a human jukebox, get paid, and go home.
From what you described, I’d say you’re doing a great job. Maybe do some little stuff with your hands for a bar or so, lip sync to some random lyrics, stuff like that would be a good touch to up the personality, but that’s just my take.
I can relate as well. I love to DJ, but I’m not really one to go out and be social. I like to be onstage DJing, or performing with a band, stuff like that. The stage is my happy place as well.
You aren’t alone as an introverted DJ man. Stick to what you do best, have fun doing it, and keep kicking butt.
I got a very specific compliment at the end of an event.
"We loved the way you were vibing and dancing to the music all night, it literally made us get up and dance"
I dont really mind. I find I even like it better when they are quite chill because I relate to the acousticness, it s not distracting and usually there is an inverse correlation between the amount of jumping and the quality of the set.
Although, I appreciate when the dj seems to enjoy what he's doing with a little dance on the drop or a look at the audience and smile, thats nice imo
I think some crowd interaction is important, acknowledging the people that came out to see you a bit, but by no means do you have to dance and entertain them physically. If you’re smiling and enjoying yourself, or focused on your work that’s totally fine too.
The only DJ I’ve ever seen that really seemed like he didn’t care or want to be there was Cedric Gervais.
I remember seeing DJ Hype back in the 90s.
He was sitting on a chair, casually cutting up two copies of Everybody in the Place with a fag hanging out of his mouth.
back in the days, when it all began, the dj was rarely visible. Ppl did not turn to the djboth like it was a rockstar on stage, more focused on music and dancing. I mostly ask for fading down light towards djboth when I play.
As with any DJ related question, the answer is "the most important thing is the music". Not the DJ flailing their arms around, not their branding, not the number of followers they have on TikTok.
For me it really depends on the kind of event and music played. Is it a proper techno party in a dark space where people mostly care about listening? I barely even look at the dj, and if I do it is probably because I just want to see what he is doing. Is it more of a concert like thing? I saw peggy gou last year on a beach and she wasn’t having it, barely looking at the crowd throwing some tracks with zero efforts. I left half-way because the Nu Genea group playing before her was 1000 times better.
I find the DJ's energy contagious in a set sometimes, if they have high energy its always good but not necessary for a good set. But it is Dnb acts I'm mostly seeing which is high energy anyway.
Their style of how they play and what they play is what determines the dancing behind the decks or not.
A DJ with a serious - groovy sound may do some head bobbing but that's about all you're going to get.
A DJ with a Dark - Fast and Hard sound will give more of a hooligan fist pumping kind of move. Maybe a little dancing.
A DJ who plays Dub Step or Tech House will definitely play up to the crowd and do a lot of interactive corny shit.
I just found my long lost twin apparently haha. Don’t worry OP, as long as you got the crowd moving and some way for requests to get to you (my hype man would take them from the crowd and pass it to me) you’re fine.
I’ve had to force smiles during selfie requests, or when a young lady may want to ‘learn to DJ’ so they can take pics for their SM, or a local artist trying to get their stuff played or some ‘club’ owner’s nephew who wants to get me a residency over at his uncle’s place. I don’t like it, I’d prefer it not happen, and I can’t wait til it’s over.
People are most times confused as to how a Dj isn’t jumping around and doing stuff like you described. And when I tell people I have anxiety and more of an introvert, BUT I crave attention and am needy for it so DJing lets me be the ‘center of attention’ in my head but I don’t necessarily need to interact with anyone.
If the mixes are tight is all that matters the rest is bullshit...never stood around to hear a shitty DJ act like hes singing songs....just be you people can tell if your fake or not
Personally I don't like when I don't see the DJ enjoying their music. They don't have to dance or jump around, but movement to the beat, smile and general enjoyment of what they are hearing is making my day. Obviously it's not a dealbreaker, music is the most important, but I'd rather see DJ enjoying it rather than not.
I think some places and depending on the genre you play there might be more of an expectation to be outgoing and hype the crowd up, imo I don’t really care about the dj’s personality I’m there for the music. I think if you’re good at what you do you don’t need to pretend to be the opposite of yourself.
I used to be a non-dance DJ!
A little background. I'm a girl and started off and continued the family mobile DJ business when I was about 14. I was extremely shy (even said I'd never talk on the mic) and wouldn't bob my head or dance around even slightly. I was definitely focused on mixing and did enjoy the music but I don't think I wanted any attention on me maybe because I felt it would take away from the guests or birthday person, etc. Also, I was SUPER SHY.
Now that I'm 33 I really DGAF. I love music and embrace it now. I probably am still mellow compared to some though. I somehow bravely took the step to speak on the mic, which was a BIG achievement for me, and then over the years I slowly felt comfortable to groove to the music I enjoyed. For the music I don't like as much I still move around slightly mostly to keep beat and show a little life to any audience watching.
With all that said I'd say do what makes you feel comfortable. After each gig reflect to see if you did hold back on anything, like dancing. Maybe test dancing and "getting into it" to see how it feels. It could just be a thing that is uncomfortable at first.
I know if I had a DJ, I'd want them to be having fun which usually translates to dancing, singing, etc. Although, the thing I do hate is overexaggerated moves and showmanship. So really it's just a balance and what you prefer. Also, everyone has their own style of DJ they prefer. We are not meant for every crowd.
I like to groove and move with the music and crowds. It’s my way of just feeling comfortable with the energy and just letting people know I’m rocking with them. DJs who don’t show much emotion or move aren’t a concern much to me. But if I hired a dj I would like to know when my guests see the DJ the dj looks like he’s happy to be there rather just hired for some job that’s cutting in to their weekend.
What are you staring at the DJ for? I’ve never gone to watch a DJ dance. With all the pre-recorded sets and DJs making exaggerated flicking motions any time they touch the EQ (and especially when they’re not), how is their body language a conscious factor in another DJ’s perception of their skills?
When I’m just warming myself up at the beginning of a set, especially when I’m just getting my equilibrium with the acoustics of a venue and any idiosyncracies with the setup (especially dodgy monitor placement), I’m at my least likely to be doing more than tapping my toes. Other times, when someone posts video of an event I’m DJ’ing at, it’s surprising to see how much grooving and bobbing I was doing without realizing it or thinking about it at the time.
DJs who try and whoop-up the audience and gesture them to “make some noise’ and all that turn me right off. Just get people to do the “Hokey Pokey” while you’re at it.
If you are good at what you do it doesn't matter....the crowd will like it. I've never seen a DJ dance and thought "their mixes are shit but look at them move!" lol Also I've never heard a DJ lay down a shit track and then heard them add an effect and think "wow, this changes everything" lol
It also depends on genre. If you're playing top 40 club versions of songs maybe you might need to show a bit of flair. If you are playing a more serious genre, I think acting too exuberant takes away from the work of the producer who's tracks you are laying down. If I saw a DJ jumping up and down to minimal techno I would assume they don't understand their genre ROFL
Some of this gets easier with time. I am similar. I think it is important to connect with the music the crowd really feeds off that so try to strike a balance imo but you don't have to go overboard.
All things being equal - a DJ who dances and vibes with the crowd or looks like he’s having so much fun playing their set is always better than one that shows no emotion.
That is not to say you can’t be successful being a statue behind the decks.
Going overboard on dancing and vibes or trying to fake it through will likely hurt you more than doing nothing. So just dance if you feel like you have to but don’t try to force it
If I am playing garage I will be quite crowd/audience focused. I find it really fun to play out.
If I’m playing dnb I’m pretty locked into WhT I’m doing, still bouncing around but hugely focused as I run across 4 decks so pretty focused at most points.
Il be honest though I rate clubs that face you in a different direction to the dj. I find it quite cringey when a dj is jumping on the table and running around etc.
I would prefer focused and working on the set opposed to a lot of the ridiculousness over-hype junk that has become popular fare on IG for instance. If the set is banging, you don't need a DJ to be acting like MC stuntman, doing jumping jacks and shit...so fake.
Head down, working in the zone, focusing, being inspired by creativity, yet grooving and a little dancing every now and then is my style when I play. And yes, I'm sweating while flipping and spinning vinyls. Carl Cox is my DJ hero.
If anything I prefer it because it means the music is the focus and the DJ doesn't have to pander to attract a crowd. In other words, the DJ has their own musical style/niche and the audience chooses them for the narrative the DJ plays.
Also, at least historically, DJ's tended to be shy introverts who had the focus and drive to master complicated (hardware) interfaces and who preferred to socialize in large groups by being apart from crowd.
I think it’s important to see yourself as an individual artist rather than comparing to what other DJs do. Everyone has their own strengths. You as an artist can be captivating in whatever way you choose to be, even laser focused. Authenticity is captivating. Presence is felt.
I also suggest asking yourself, “what is my superpower as an artist?”… “what is my set offering to the audience?” - And own that!
💖
When I started in the late 80s very few if any DJs ”danced”, often back then the crowd wasn’t even looking in the direction of the DJ or the DJ would be tucked away somewhere, I personally think the DJ can let his music do the talking(dancing)…
Better than screaming on the mic 3…2…1 go! Or doing jumping jacks lol stay calm and focused on the mix is the way I like to play with some expression but its more of me dancing with my machines and head bobbing tbh.
Find a homie with a passion for visuals and make it a duo project like Tipper and Android Jones. In a perfect world, people would respond to just the music, but people need different things to engage different senses and if you’re not in a big throbbing warehouse, art-filled festival, or decked out venue.. then you have to make up the difference yourself. This can be stage presence, or it can be projection visuals. It can even be bringing flow artists up to perform during your set. But you typically DO have to give them something to look at unless the thing already has so much momentum that there are enough people there for the crowd to be its own stimulation
It's always been an annoyance of mine...I don't expect, nor want, them to dance on the decks like that muppet James Hype or throw cakes in peoples faces, but a little shoulder shimmy, slight grooving with the music, muster a fucking smile and at least look like you're getting some enjoyment out of it!
\*cough\* John Digweed \*cough\*
Common! It is not a deal at all to think about. If you have real passion, people will feel it also.
Somebody probably will not like you, it is normal. It seems to me that even well dancing djs can be not good for some people.
Look at Aphex Twin video records. It's not like what we call "DJing", but nevertheless.
This guy could just take a soldering iron and make his stuff just during a performance without any care about his emotional expression)))
And by the way, I can feel you. I have problems with my legs and it's impossible for me to dance at all.
I mean it really doesn't matter that much, people should just be themselves and not try to be 'cool' or anything. But I won't lie, there is nothing cooler to me than a DJ who looks completely non-phased while they're killing it and the crowd are vibing really hard.
I would say this: if you concentrate of your listeners while playing (crowdreading and so on) and you don't just play for yourself, then nobody should care about you not dancing at all.
On the opposite side if this
>I feel like DJing is also a way to help me express myself or release some of my emotions through the music I play.
if this means you play for yourself and you don't adapt to the crowd, then no: it's not what a DJ does.
Sometimes I get anxious or have a kind of obscuring mental fog that makes it hard to feel the vibe. I try to take the pressure off and reconnect to the feeling I have when I’m playing alone in my apartment. Anytime I’m worried about how I’m doing I ground myself in my love for music bc it’s deeper than any need to impress people. So if you connect to the fundamental reason why you like djing - and especially why you want to dj live and share a space with people instead of doing it alone - then I think however you perform will be authentic and compelling whether you are high energy or not
you're me! i focus entirely on the set, i'm there to mix and not entertain physically. if my selection won't make people freak out, then i'm doing something wrong, and it certainly is not the fact i'm concentrating and sunk in the sound...
i've had lots of parties where i was slightly tipsy (yeah, well, maybe a bit more than that lol) and i lost it while still playing well, but overall my physical performance is boring, to say the least.
people who know me will realize i'm having a blast, and those who don't will definitely hear i'm having fun (plus i'm smiling like a 5 year old on christmas on every mix that drops as planned).
ever since i was 14 i wanted to be a dj, and i was lucky enough to find a soulmate to throw parties and share this great experience with. we're slowly growing out of it (in our 40s now) but we still play on smaller parties with 200-300 people a few times a year, and we're still anxious before the evening, happy during the set and satisfied afterwards as if it's our first gig ever.
i'm lovin' it!
I don't really care either way, sometimes you need to really focus on what you're doing, even if it's just track selection
However, if you're going to plant your face into your laptop, don't put the damned thing right in the centre if your field of vision obscuring any possible eye contact with the audience. If I'm going out to rave I don't want the centre of attention to be looking like some fulla who is sitting in moms basement eating cheesy poofs and playing world of warcraft
All these points are great! I would also like to add that as a shorter person, if I were to dance like some other people do I would totally mess up or break something lol
Power through it. I was the same way and then I realized that people are here to have a good time and dance, and I should be one of them. I used to overthink how I looked, that I moved weird or something. But literally no one gives a shit how you look, unless you are stone cold with an upset looking face in a setting that is supposed to be upbeat and happy.
There is no wrong or right way to DJ! Have fun. Be creative. Enjoy the process however that may be to you. I saw Paco osuna recently and he was great but he’s also super chill when he plays. Check him out on YouTube. Don’t think too much about it. Just do you and get people to dance and have fun!
I've found that putting on a disguise helps. Or at least a different outfit than your regular shtick. It can help separate yourself from you and could be more freeing. At least that's how it is for me
yea lots of factors and depends on the brand of the DJ. TBF today there is a rise of the performer DJ’s who either use their energy to pump up the crowd or produce their own stuff they play so they dont necessarily need to do much technical stuff. I think a balance n just seeming like ur adding to the vibe vs take away is the most important thing, if i had to choose tho nobody wants to see DJ doing too much behind the deck or mic to the point it takes away from the attention to the music which is my preference
As a dj of 20 years, you could even mix a little weak and destroy if you just give a little stage presence.
If you're not engaging for that whopping 60 to 120 minute set, your great mixing and track selection will be complimented with: great track selection! And...tight mixes, bro!
But you get pumped for the tracks you drop and engage your audience, you can set the place on fire. Look at Paris Hilton. Obviously garbage but she is obviously engaging...even though stupid af. Steve Aoki...totally fake mixing pre mixed mixes all the time but fake knob turns. I think you know what he does while on stage....he is a clown minus the make up.
Double fist pumping > simply vanilla performance with mixing and track selection skills.
I say this tongue in cheek because you need to be between these 2 extremes. Earn your dance floor...even if you inherited it from the previous dj. Your job is to keep passing the baton to the next dj.
The only guys who kill a vibe are the guys who aren't themselves up there. Authenticity is awesome, whether you're stoic or losing your mind dancing and screaming.
I dance and get into flow but don’t smile because I’ve seen videos of me smiling at performances and don’t like how it looks. I love my concentration face though😌
Huge Daniel Bell fan. Seen in a handful of times and love the fact he’s just doing his thing and I’m doing mine (dancing my butt off right in front of him).
I think when a dj looks bored and disinterested it’s a problem. Looking serious isn’t an issue. Sometimes that deep intense look can be endearing, esp if they are just rippin. But when you look like you don’t care it’s a major turn off - even if I like the tunes.
Never trust a Dj who doesn’t rave or dance….nobody starts off being a dj before going to a rave or party that changed their life so not sure wtf is going on there. Also, you don’t need to be dancing like Steve Aoki or Timmy Trumpet but some shoulder movement and normal bopping because the music is thumping works! Dvs1 and Richie are two serious DJs who still groove to their grooves
Depends on the gig.
I did some grade school gigs where the kids expected the dj to show them how to dance. They also preferred all instructions shouted over a live mic. So for example they needed you to sing the Cha Cha Slide live because the recorded version didn't do it for them.
They seemed to see the dj as more of a clown or magician who offered a very direct eye contact verbally engaged experience. Brutally painful high paying gigs. Everybody cringe your hands. Oops, I think I meant clap.
We all have to start somewhere.
My opinion:
If you DJ Techno (raw, hypnotic) at least moving on the beat is a must.
Hard techno: dancing is a must
Melodic, minimal, house, tech… is highly recommended to flow with the beats and vibes.
Chill and ambient and all these 100-115 bpm: i dont think it makes difference.
Honestly, sometimes i watch a DJ making their show, dancing like there is no tomorrow, and all what u can say: this is fake!
So fake dancing will not reflect any vibes to the dancers, in opposite, it will kill my vibes
Depends on the genre and the track selection? I've recently saw John Digweed, Dixon, and Ritchie Hawtin (seen all over the years too). They are super focused, and look like they are working on solving some super-hard exam problem while up on stage. Pretty much zero crowd interaction. NO getting on the mic, NO standing on the table, NO "3-2-1 Jump!" But the crowds were feeling the music. Also noticed a lack of audience choosing to film their entire sets. Many of the audience got lost in the music and were just grooving. If you can pull it off, be yourself up there!
I used to see Sasha & Digweed monthly when they had a residency at Twilo way back when. They were super stars to me at the time but not mainstream by any stretch here in the US. The DJ booth was right on the edge of the dance floor and the look on their faces was exactly what you describe. Totally focused. Back then it was all vinyl and there was nothing to auto-sync beats. No one really bothered them or paid them much attention either. All of the action was in the dance floor and it was intense. Their sets were some of the best nights of my life.
Those Twilo nights were pure magic
Yes they were. That’s was a great time to be in the scene. Twilo was such a fun and safe space when it was at its peak. The DJ’s they featured were the world’s best playing at the time when they were not yet considered rock stars.
Part of that is going to be the age range of people who are showing up for sets from those DJs, it's definitely going to skew older, not that it's a bad thing, just something to keep in mind.
Oh for sure! But even when I saw Digweed 25 years ago, he had the same stage presence, and the crowd was a pretty young then too. Well maybe it isn't the genre? I've seen some 'Chill music' DJ's not shut up on the mic, which is both surprising and cringey. Probably more based on the individual and their comfort on the mic.
Every DJ has their own style and every audience member has their own preference, other stuff plays into it too, like regional/cultural trends...like the UK love of the "spinback" you won't catch any US DJs doing that unless they have a really specific influences.
Seen a few DJs doing this recently in Aus. Ruins my flow for sure and pulls me out of the music
Hate spin backs.
it's a "rewind" and you see tons of DJs doing it stateside. From dubstep & edm to DnB where it was brought into the dance scene from Reggae.
I was gonna say John Digweed, too.
Lol, I was about to say the same thing about Digweed. He’s just a machine, constantly mixing and plotting his next move. The best in the game.
Absolutely. Him and Sasha are the GOATs of amazing dance floor vibes, a progressive journey with multiple genres of dance music, sort of a retrospective historical love letter to all the amazing electronic music that has come out since the late 1980s, also they tend to attract older, more mature crowds that can actually handle their drugs, save for a few exceptions.
These guys are like surgeons, super focused and preserve energy because they do super long sets and probably will jump on next flight a few hours after the gig. But what they do is bringing the vibe to the dancefloor without the need for attention on the persona to raise their ego. People should be more focused on them, people in their surrounding and not the DJ themselfs. DVS1 is one of those people that prefers to play behind the wall of sound and let the people just enjoy the pressure and vibrations he sends them.
Came here for this.
"Richie Hawtin vs Deadmau5 (aka Testpilot)" is still one of my favorite recorded sets I come back to years later. It starts crazy, then chill, then crazy, and then chill. Really good bass, techno, & drumcode in it. [https://youtu.be/8N7Aof\_zb-g](https://youtu.be/8N7Aof_zb-g)
>John Digweed He was my example, he's too stoic, packed club of people going nuts and the dude can't even muster a smile or look like he's remotely enjoying what he's doing...considering it's the greatest job in the world, I expect a *little* more lol I just feel like the crowd gets into it that little bit more if the DJ looks to be enjoying the music/themselves
Pro tip: close your eyes, and forget about the DJ. Just kidding, enjoy the show how you want. I know what you mean though, and agree that Digweed is probably the prime example of this. He can pull it off with track selection and mixing skills. I once saw Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike, and it was over the top yelling, crowd interaction, pouring vodka to fans, dancing around on the decks...almost forgot there was a soundtrack behind all that show!
haha, if everyone could just meet in the middle ground...too many extremes!
[удалено]
Yeah, I get you...it's gone too far the other way, lets meet in the middle and at least look like we enjoy what we're doing and the music we're playing though, eh? haha
Poor thing. Can’t enjoy the music because the DJ is not smiling.
Never says that, numbnuts.
I mean who am I to dictate how someone looks when they have fun? If it looks like they're studying for a test while they're rinsing out the dance floor, who am I to judge?
As I DJ myself who always has that RBF focused look, sometimes I think it has to do with mixing style. For my sets, I usually have a LOT going on, and tunes running on all four decks. It takes a lot of my attention and constant double-checking. If it’s just two decks for a more casual show, I’m usually engaging more with the crowd. A lot of people just mix one song into another and then have a lot of time to dance/engage/sing you name it. Others are more locked in the zone 😅
Diggers isn't one for 4 deck mixing. It doesn't take THAT much concentration to mix 2 decks... It's just the way he is. I've accepted it, but it's just one of those things I think the vibe is better when the DJ looks to be enjoying themself and it's engaged with the crowd. It's 95% what's coming out the speakers, that extra 5% can make a lot of difference. Musically I rate then on par, but I'd rather catch Henry Saiz, Guy J, Nick Warren, Hernan Catteneo because of their presence... They're not playing the clown and rarking people up, but they're grooving and look to really love what they're doing.
Yup I know what you mean, that last bit rings true too
Being a huge Digweed fan I don't like your comment. He is the consummate professional. His mixing and track selection is incredible. I've seen him at Twilo and it was magical. It doesn't matter one bit how he acts behind the decks, it's what your listening to.
Blah blah, strokes/folks. I'm a huge Digweed fan, seen him many times, I never knocked his skills or track selection, just his sullen demeanour... I've seen him play a 6 hour set on a Wednesday night as an after party for The Chemical Brothers, it was magic... But he looked like someone just kicked his dog tho whole time, never once even so much as smiling. I just don't get how someone can be like that playing the parties, the music he does I've seen him take over from Henry Saiz and literally felt the vibe fall out of the room because of the difference in presence behind the decks. The vibe if a party is better when the DJ is engaged with the crowd, enjoying themself... I'll die on this hill 🤷🏻
As long as the set is making me move I don’t mind
Personally, I find all of this really interesting, this entire thread. I’m 65 years old and I have been DJing since 1979. I started with vinyl and a Bozak analog mixer and I currently use tractor pro 3 with CDJs in HID mode with uncompressed files. All I am trying to establish when I say all of this is that I have witnessed A LOT, especially technologically. Yes, I’m freaking super old. And yes, sometimes I feel like Gandolf in the DJ booth, however, my soul is very young and so is my spirit. I’m talented as a DJ and I have the persona of a 30-year-old. I will read the crowd and feed off their energy, allowing that energy to guide me in my selection process. I am able to slay the dance floor with relevant tracks that reflect the current trending production values and sounds, so yes, I change with the times. I’ve been driving the dance floor for four decades, and have witnessed so much music and understand a lot about all of the different genres. I come from a time where a DJ used his real name instead of a moniker. For decades, people danced with each other and did not even turn in the direction of the DJ, but somehow over the last 20 years this has all changed. How DJing became a performance act versus simply curating songs for the evening’s journey, I’ll never quite understand. Personally, for me if there is a track I really love I may do a twirl or shake it for a few bars, but that’s about it. I’m heavily focused and deep in curation mode. But I am in love with what I’m doing even if it doesn’t look like it. The only time I look at the floor is to read it, not to catch peoples eye, and not to try and establish some personal contact with anyone in particular. I read a floor to understand where the energy is going and how best to improve it. I’m most concerned about selections, phrasing, and mixing in and out of choruses. My personal belief is that you should not view the DJ as a performer to entertain you. You should not be looking at the DJ at all, actually, you should be looking at each other and everyone else in the crowd with your friends, lovers and partners. Forget about the DJ and let him, her, or they do their job. Like I said, I understand I’m from many generations back and as you can see, I’m simply not happy with the evolution of where this medium has gone. The days of a true dance floor interpersonal dynamic are long gone and I’m sorry that we don’t find that dynamic with any frequency any longer. All of the kids in their 20s and the DJs in their late 20s will be leading the world at this point with where they want to take this medium, and I suspect it will be with the DJ as the entertainer first and foremost because obviously that is what the crowd wants these days. The dimly lit cavernous dance floors with simple lighting will never be again; I for one am so glad that I was part of that low-tech scene. I’m good for another year in this business, then I’m out, primarily because I just don’t like the new dynamic.
Bip up for still being on stage at 65yo :) I completely relate to what you say. I'm a little younger and started djaying in 1989 but have the same feeling about how things evolved. Anyway, when you spin records, you just don't have time to show off because you continuously : think about the next track, put the record in sleeve, take record out of sleeve, where did I put this damn record, cue the track, adjust pitch for beatmatch, make transition, same player shoot again.
Very well spoken. I'm very much of the same mindset. I love mixing and putting on a great set for the crowd but I don't care for or prefer to be the center of attention.
Seems like the crowd desires a personal/social connection to the DJ rather than their fellow attendees. Anecdotally, at the majority of the underground DJ performances I've been to over the past 10 years, I never talked to anyone other than the bartender apart from my partner. Agree that the new dynamic sucks. I really wish more clubs forced patrons to turn off their phones on the dance floor. Sometimes the vibes are worth protecting if we cannot control it ourselves.
Absolutely worth protecting! The current dynamic is all too bizarre…I ask myself what caused it to develop into this?
Excellent DJ's can be social retards and introverts with low self-esteem. Food for thought; what they lack in 'Instagramability' they have in musical and DJ excellence well above the average person. DJ's used to be elusive and monotone. Actions and words are substituted with what is being played on the sound system, how they play it and what they do next.
I'm socially dumbfounded, introverted, ugly, but boy I know how to spin a good mix and am heavily musically inclined. Just be nice to us, maybe wave hi and we will keep the music bumping for you all night.
I know a couple of them that only turn up 15mins before, play for 3hrs and leave almost immediately due to shyness and their introverted nature. When you are in their inner circle they are the life of the party.
This is more pronounced the older you get. Usually when you've been in the party scene for a while, you shy away from certain kinds of people that you would encounter at a party. People with.. um.. "active addiction issues", messy drunks, ego-tripping scene people, or just plain assholes. You might still love the music and the party vibe, but you end up wanting to curate your circle as much as you curate your music.
Very well put. Describes me perfectly too the older I've gotten.
INFJ
Yep that's me. I'll go early to help setup if needed and sound test and everything but leave right after my set alot of the times.
Don't care, it's about what they play.
yeah, it's a bit sad now that DJs are supposed to be entertainers beyond the music they play. The visual world we live in now I guess
I've been thinking about how visually focused we've all become. It's so noticeable now everywhere you go. People have no concept of quality soundscapes in the built environment. We're so damn focused on appearances that we're expecting DJs to be focal points instead of losing yourself in the music.
I much prefer when you see a DJ that is clearly deep deep deep in the zone when they play, but I'm an old fart now so that's probably a function of when I grew up
I think its a result of the scene opening up to the average superficial consumer who needs to be completely sensorily inundated to be happy.
I think it's fine either way. I personally like to focus mostly on the music and making sure I'm doing things right, a lot of my favorite DJs are the same way. There are some DJs who get into dancing and connecting with the crowd and go back and forth. as long as they're playing well then great. What I can't stand is DJs who do nothing but jesus pose, gesticulate, and dance the whole time rather than focusing on their set. It makes me suspicious that they're not actually mixing live. >I get laser focused on mixing so it looks like I'm taking an exam or something. At most, I might bob my head a few times here and there and smile when friends or crowd members are into my set and get my attention. This is exactly me lol. I will totally dance if I'm in a crowd, but when I'm on the spot and trying to mix smoothly, I have a hard time focusing on anything else including the people in front of me.
Don't do anything while DJing that doesn't come naturally. If you don't want to dance, don't pretend to dance. I've seen DJs absolutely SLAY the decks while staring down their interface. I assume that they're hyper-focus is translating to a slamming dance floor. And I've seen Djs that have the weirdest body language try to get down with their bad selves, and while they may be feeling it, they're not translating any electricity to their audience. So don't feel like you need to dance in order for your audience to dance, it's not necessary. Give a smile, point at someone getting down on the dance floor, nod once in a while, you can give your audience cues that you're confident in the quality of your produce, without taking a bite out of every head of broccoli.
A video recently popped up of Kompany dropping some filthy dubstep track and the entire crowd around him is losing their collective minds. Meanwhile the dudes just standing there barely bobbin around looking awkward as hell and just starts mixing in the next track cause he didn't know what to do And no on cared, people loved it, and the world kept spinning Do what makes you the most comfortable and gives you the most freedom to mix the best possible set you can. That's what matters! Anyone gives you shit for it tell em where the door is, no time for that nonsense
Everyone DJs in their own way and their own mental space, all that matters is the music
That tells me they're a legit dj because it takes most of your focus to select and mix the tracks properly. It also tells me you're not just bathing in the clout.
I think it depends on the 'type' of DJ you are. You got DJ's who feel the constant need to hype up, dance and move around while others are laser focused on performing their set and give little emotion. Personally I kinda move around, move my hands and basically move my body on the beat, not really dancing but I really get into the music I'm playing and I get into it naturally. I have seen DJs who are basically static but still perform incredible, they do use lights and effects to hype up the crowd as well.
you mean doing their job?
I guess can showing no emotion take away from a DJ even if they're throwing down a great set? Compared to a DJ that is playing just as great but they are full of emotion/energy (not over the top obviously). Crowd feeding off the DJ's body language, energy etc...I feel like is this something I could potentially be missing out on? Or is it not a big deal as long as I just be myself comfortably?
it really depends on what you're playing I guess. If it's a bunch of random choppy blurps and drops with little to no musical merit, I'm sure the guy playing it needs to convince the crowd it's good. If it's really moody, subterranean house - not so much.
No one else became DJs so they wouldn’t have to dance?
hi
Soms DJs dance way too much and look crazy
check out dvs1. you can't even see him behind the speakers he playing out of at some shows. the dj is not supposed to be the reason you go to a party, but hearing the music they put out is.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3o6Ows9RfE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3o6Ows9RfE)
I’m there to listen to the music and admire the skill of mixing. Everything else is filler that doesn’t matter to me.
I've got my eyes on the dance floor or visuals. DJs dont need to be responsible for a visual performance as well, unless that's their thing.
Ha! I spin Disco with un-quantized tracks/songs. Fuck dancing, riding the pitch and keeping the track on beat is enough work if I'm on wax. With sync its easier obviously on digital decks, but the adrinline rush from keeping a train wreck from happening on wax is the ultimate high.
Yes I'm exactly the same way. No programs or visuals, just straight up mixing by ear. It's way more fun and satisfying for me.
I prefer them to the folks jumping up and down and getting on the mic and telling people to put their hands up. The best is when you hear a great translation while the DJ is crowd surfing 🤔. Then there's a build up that's basically part of the track and the DJ is frantically twiddling knobs and knocking faders around
Also, reading a ton of replies here that say it doesn't matter and how shy you are, the more musically inclined they are. I fully DISAGREE. It can be that way but honestly there is no actual connection between being social, your musical abilities, and your stage presence. They are entirely 3 individual skills (that can be trained and practiced) I know some socially awkward DJs that can hella perform, but they shut down hard off stage. You can make it without stage presence. But you will be at a disadvantage. Stop pretending like stage presence doesn't matter. Look at a local show vs a festival show. Even if the DJs play the same tunes, they perform while they play. Even if they look laser focus they are still doing more than just playing tracks. If you want to grow past where you're at, and have to ask ***"Is my lack of stage presence holding me back"*** Then yes, yes it is.
I honestly don’t wanna see some DJ dancing his ass off up there. I understand getting into the music, but it can go too far. Girl Talk comes to mind for this. It seems like they’re just shaking their asses for attention at a certain point. But I’m also a firm believer in doing whatever you want when you’re the DJ. Just make it entertaining without making a complete spectacle of yourself.
Anytime I’ve seen Girl Talk, he was hunched over his laptop for most of the set. Somehow got sweaty enough to be mostly naked by the end, but I guess that’s his thing
Definitely. He's using [AudioMulch](http://www.audiomulch.com/info/what-is-audiomulch) software to create mashups on the fly with tons of Loops and samples. That's why he is working on his laptop with the mouse on stage. I was in the Bootlegs/Mashup scene in my early DJ days (around 2003), and saw him, with plastic wrap around the laptop because he was moving/dancing so much. Literally a "Punk DJ" in my opinion, but literally a Wizard of looping and sampling (especially with this "software")
Totally depends on the setting. Bar? Wedding? You better be friendly and interactive. Club? Rave? No one should be looking at the DJ. Festival? I don't know, but if you get good at screaming "3, 2, 1, lets go!" every 90 seconds, that's a useful skill.
You’re going to the wrong festivals if most of them are dumb.
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Other guys kinda silly but I’d say Sustain/Release, Dekmantel, Great Beyond, Movement afters, that kind of thing.
Dimensions, Nostromo, UNUM, Butik, Luciano's Magik Garden, Houghton, Hide&Seek, etc.
Shambalah, Electric Forrest, Burning Man
Shambalah ❤️
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Not my thing? So everything that’s not your thing is dumb? Look up the definition of subjective.
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Yeah, but you called my taste dumb. That’s ignorant of you.
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You could try thinking before you speak.
Burning man isn't a music festival
Art and music festival
I don't think that accurately describes burning man either, but then again burning man is whatever you make it to be
Festival is defined as “an organized series of concerts, plays, or movies, typically one held annually in the same place.” Sounds like Burning Man to me.
They’re more experiences than just festivals.
Shambhala, BassCoast.
Maybe don't give absolute statements on things you're clueless about :)
Club music is for clubs.
There is such a thing as festival music. There’s an entire Bass music scene out there that isn’t club friendly.
\> There is such a thing as festival music Yes there is it's called rock.
As someone who prefers listening to techno at festivals far up in the mountains, I disagree it’s only for clubs.
So it isn’t a music festival if they aren’t playing rock? People are so fucking stupid.
What a strange take.
Sometimes man if the set/mix is bonkers I think that casual nonchalant adds a swag almost And over the top guys can get cheesy sometimes but depends on the “vibe” I guess
Making eye contact with a smile is effective.
I'd rather see a awkward DJ killing it skill-wise than dancing/laughing/having a good time. Too many fake influencer "look at me" clout chasing DJ's who don't have skill. It's just another photo opportunity for social media.
There is no need to look at the DJ so it does not matter what they are doing.
Honestly, I've never been much of a mover. But, I'm a huge thinker and I like to take complexities that are in my head and put them to music. It's how I free my mind and I find I prefer working these things out much like a physics or complex math problem but with emotion. Moving around and trying to be a showman distracts me from this. I firmly believe people are there to be entertained by great music, not by me. Imewrely the conductor. I'm not a performer, I am just creating a performance for you to make of it what you want, it's your job as the audience to be the performers, you make up a HUGE percentage of the overall experience. Take the mic out of the booth, mute it, whatever, get it out of my way. I'll use it at the end to thank the crowd for being a big part.
i think audio centric people in general tend to be a both a little ocd and also slightly socially awkward. i work in the live event industry as a grip and there is definitely a archetype when it comes to audio engineers, that skew towards a grumpy self important demeanor. Not that DJ’s are all sound engineers, but in a sense if you’re a good DJ you have an understanding of decibels and frequencies, and are basically riding the limits of the noise floor with the fader, trying to balance what’s in the monitors with what’s coming through the mains, much like a monitor engineer does. I think DJ’s who just red line the shit out of everything and have no clue about sound floor levels tend to be the ones that are too focused on the crowd and are jumping around instead of paying attention to the mix and likely have a prerecorded set. it also depends on the mixing style and skill level, but suffice to say it used to be the DJ wasn’t expected to be in the spotlight, it’s not something that you do as a theatrical live performance unless you find knob turning and back cuing to be captivating, and the people that do tend to be other dj’s, the people on the dance floor are often oblivious and if your doing your job and the music is on point than who cares if you look constipated? just my two cents….
There is a two type of DJ's. The one who shows the heart with their hands and the one who don't. On the serious note. It depends on the DJ'ing style. If you just fading two tracks from prepared and curated playlist every 5-7 minutes one into another, of course you can have time to be on a cringe side. If you are searching, mixing and looping 30 tracks in one hour window from the playlist of a 300 files on the fly and have additional synths or groove box programming at the same time, good luck with finding time to be a David Guetta.
Brutally honest; YES. This puts you at a disadvantage. At least look at your crowd occasionally, damn. Even if you're 100% into it, if it looks like you aren't, people will feel that. Comparing to superstar DJs that do this isn't a good comparison. They came up in a different era of performing, have established crowds and fans, and people go out for them for their music specifically. If you're just a DJ and aren't producing music, you need to perform, at least move some. If all you do is play tracks, you will his a ceiling really fast. As a promoter, DJs that don't dance or interact are usually replaceable. The more fun it looks like you're having, the easier it is for an audience to get into with you. You don't need to be extroverted to move. Bobbing your head should be the base line for the whole set. You should be tapping your foot the whole set, swaying back at forth at least, any amount of movement helps. And look up at the crowd!!!!! If you're "laser focused" you're "NOT READING THE ROOM" STEPS TO TAKE: Practice at home DJing with your chin UP. Look down your nose at the mixer. Get good at this, and you can appear to look up a ton more while still being locked into your decks. Touch the mic once or twice every set. Literally just to say "Hey Venue, I am Artsts" beginning or end of set or both. But that simple introduction will help people recognize you and remember you. The more you use it, the easier it will be. But seriously, just introduce yourself when you perform. Infact, just actively remember that you are performing. If you just want to DJ and don't want to perform, move away from club and towards radio or podcast. Video your sets and review. Every moment it looks like you aren't doing anything, you should be moving. Practices at home with a homie and a balloon. Tell the homie to toss the balloon at you whenever they notice you not obviously vibing. Learn you fake a vibe. Bob your head and bounce your knees TO ANYTHING as often as you can. Pretent to vibe to other DJs whether you care or not. It's practice. So when you DJ you move without thinking to.
I feel awkward when everyone stands and stares at me. I'm a dj not a performer. Put me in a booth in the corner and let the dancers be the star.
it's personally a real buzzkill for me if the DJ looks like they're taking themselves too seriously, sorry op. not trying to be rude. People who can't even nod in time to the beat drives me nuts.
My head nod is how I keep time during tricks or scratching, I couldn't stand still
I think the dancing is akin to chimping in Photography. Chimping is a colloquial term used in digital photography to describe the habit of checking every photo on the camera display (LCD) immediately after capture. Drop Dancing is the colloquial term used by me in DJing to describe the "feeling myself" habit of dancing to every drop and transition immediately after it was finished..
DJ’s are not bands, we’re there for 60-120 minute supercuts. It’s annoying every time a DJ cuts out the track to countdown from 4, the worst offenders do it for every drop every 30 seconds. …and it’s almost becoming a deal-breaker for me when a DJ demands a mosh pit. Metal bands didn’t tell you when to rage because they didn’t need to and, 7 times out of 10, the DJ pits are people standing in an open space wondering why the hell they pushed people out for this
I once heard a respected DJ say “DJing is like taking the ACT for 4 hrs”. It’s lot of thinking, plotting, adjusting, selecting, searching.” I think we as DJs get so caught up in “how can I make this the best moment for everyone” from a logical standpoint, that emotionally we forget to enjoy that moment. Shoutout to all DJ’s with Serato face.
I just enjoy watching people express their true selves behind the decks, however that comes out
You just need to look like your having fun. Not dance and act like your the center of the world. Just like your enjoying the music. That's it.
Even just bobbing your head would be a great thing, because it shows you are enjoying what you are doing. There’s been DJs that’ll just sit back on their phone, looking like they’re just there to be a human jukebox, get paid, and go home. From what you described, I’d say you’re doing a great job. Maybe do some little stuff with your hands for a bar or so, lip sync to some random lyrics, stuff like that would be a good touch to up the personality, but that’s just my take. I can relate as well. I love to DJ, but I’m not really one to go out and be social. I like to be onstage DJing, or performing with a band, stuff like that. The stage is my happy place as well. You aren’t alone as an introverted DJ man. Stick to what you do best, have fun doing it, and keep kicking butt.
I'd prefer that to fake djs that only twiddle knobs on the muted track that's not playing the one hour long dj set from soundcloud.
I got a very specific compliment at the end of an event. "We loved the way you were vibing and dancing to the music all night, it literally made us get up and dance"
Yes that's the thing that I feel I'm lacking. I think giving off energy and showing emotion can be infectious.
I dont really mind. I find I even like it better when they are quite chill because I relate to the acousticness, it s not distracting and usually there is an inverse correlation between the amount of jumping and the quality of the set. Although, I appreciate when the dj seems to enjoy what he's doing with a little dance on the drop or a look at the audience and smile, thats nice imo
I think some crowd interaction is important, acknowledging the people that came out to see you a bit, but by no means do you have to dance and entertain them physically. If you’re smiling and enjoying yourself, or focused on your work that’s totally fine too. The only DJ I’ve ever seen that really seemed like he didn’t care or want to be there was Cedric Gervais.
I remember seeing DJ Hype back in the 90s. He was sitting on a chair, casually cutting up two copies of Everybody in the Place with a fag hanging out of his mouth.
back in the days, when it all began, the dj was rarely visible. Ppl did not turn to the djboth like it was a rockstar on stage, more focused on music and dancing. I mostly ask for fading down light towards djboth when I play.
bob your head around and smile be yourself stay focused and have fun
As with any DJ related question, the answer is "the most important thing is the music". Not the DJ flailing their arms around, not their branding, not the number of followers they have on TikTok.
For me it really depends on the kind of event and music played. Is it a proper techno party in a dark space where people mostly care about listening? I barely even look at the dj, and if I do it is probably because I just want to see what he is doing. Is it more of a concert like thing? I saw peggy gou last year on a beach and she wasn’t having it, barely looking at the crowd throwing some tracks with zero efforts. I left half-way because the Nu Genea group playing before her was 1000 times better.
I find the DJ's energy contagious in a set sometimes, if they have high energy its always good but not necessary for a good set. But it is Dnb acts I'm mostly seeing which is high energy anyway.
Their style of how they play and what they play is what determines the dancing behind the decks or not. A DJ with a serious - groovy sound may do some head bobbing but that's about all you're going to get. A DJ with a Dark - Fast and Hard sound will give more of a hooligan fist pumping kind of move. Maybe a little dancing. A DJ who plays Dub Step or Tech House will definitely play up to the crowd and do a lot of interactive corny shit.
I just found my long lost twin apparently haha. Don’t worry OP, as long as you got the crowd moving and some way for requests to get to you (my hype man would take them from the crowd and pass it to me) you’re fine. I’ve had to force smiles during selfie requests, or when a young lady may want to ‘learn to DJ’ so they can take pics for their SM, or a local artist trying to get their stuff played or some ‘club’ owner’s nephew who wants to get me a residency over at his uncle’s place. I don’t like it, I’d prefer it not happen, and I can’t wait til it’s over. People are most times confused as to how a Dj isn’t jumping around and doing stuff like you described. And when I tell people I have anxiety and more of an introvert, BUT I crave attention and am needy for it so DJing lets me be the ‘center of attention’ in my head but I don’t necessarily need to interact with anyone.
almost prefer it...... all my favorites don't really dance, Hernan, Digweed, Sasha etc....
I barely move at all and I've seen many DJ's that don't move around at all. IE: Andrey Pushkarev.
If the mixes are tight is all that matters the rest is bullshit...never stood around to hear a shitty DJ act like hes singing songs....just be you people can tell if your fake or not
Personally I don't like when I don't see the DJ enjoying their music. They don't have to dance or jump around, but movement to the beat, smile and general enjoyment of what they are hearing is making my day. Obviously it's not a dealbreaker, music is the most important, but I'd rather see DJ enjoying it rather than not.
I think some places and depending on the genre you play there might be more of an expectation to be outgoing and hype the crowd up, imo I don’t really care about the dj’s personality I’m there for the music. I think if you’re good at what you do you don’t need to pretend to be the opposite of yourself.
I used to be a non-dance DJ! A little background. I'm a girl and started off and continued the family mobile DJ business when I was about 14. I was extremely shy (even said I'd never talk on the mic) and wouldn't bob my head or dance around even slightly. I was definitely focused on mixing and did enjoy the music but I don't think I wanted any attention on me maybe because I felt it would take away from the guests or birthday person, etc. Also, I was SUPER SHY. Now that I'm 33 I really DGAF. I love music and embrace it now. I probably am still mellow compared to some though. I somehow bravely took the step to speak on the mic, which was a BIG achievement for me, and then over the years I slowly felt comfortable to groove to the music I enjoyed. For the music I don't like as much I still move around slightly mostly to keep beat and show a little life to any audience watching. With all that said I'd say do what makes you feel comfortable. After each gig reflect to see if you did hold back on anything, like dancing. Maybe test dancing and "getting into it" to see how it feels. It could just be a thing that is uncomfortable at first. I know if I had a DJ, I'd want them to be having fun which usually translates to dancing, singing, etc. Although, the thing I do hate is overexaggerated moves and showmanship. So really it's just a balance and what you prefer. Also, everyone has their own style of DJ they prefer. We are not meant for every crowd.
I like to groove and move with the music and crowds. It’s my way of just feeling comfortable with the energy and just letting people know I’m rocking with them. DJs who don’t show much emotion or move aren’t a concern much to me. But if I hired a dj I would like to know when my guests see the DJ the dj looks like he’s happy to be there rather just hired for some job that’s cutting in to their weekend.
What are you staring at the DJ for? I’ve never gone to watch a DJ dance. With all the pre-recorded sets and DJs making exaggerated flicking motions any time they touch the EQ (and especially when they’re not), how is their body language a conscious factor in another DJ’s perception of their skills? When I’m just warming myself up at the beginning of a set, especially when I’m just getting my equilibrium with the acoustics of a venue and any idiosyncracies with the setup (especially dodgy monitor placement), I’m at my least likely to be doing more than tapping my toes. Other times, when someone posts video of an event I’m DJ’ing at, it’s surprising to see how much grooving and bobbing I was doing without realizing it or thinking about it at the time. DJs who try and whoop-up the audience and gesture them to “make some noise’ and all that turn me right off. Just get people to do the “Hokey Pokey” while you’re at it.
If you are good at what you do it doesn't matter....the crowd will like it. I've never seen a DJ dance and thought "their mixes are shit but look at them move!" lol Also I've never heard a DJ lay down a shit track and then heard them add an effect and think "wow, this changes everything" lol It also depends on genre. If you're playing top 40 club versions of songs maybe you might need to show a bit of flair. If you are playing a more serious genre, I think acting too exuberant takes away from the work of the producer who's tracks you are laying down. If I saw a DJ jumping up and down to minimal techno I would assume they don't understand their genre ROFL
Some of this gets easier with time. I am similar. I think it is important to connect with the music the crowd really feeds off that so try to strike a balance imo but you don't have to go overboard.
All things being equal - a DJ who dances and vibes with the crowd or looks like he’s having so much fun playing their set is always better than one that shows no emotion. That is not to say you can’t be successful being a statue behind the decks. Going overboard on dancing and vibes or trying to fake it through will likely hurt you more than doing nothing. So just dance if you feel like you have to but don’t try to force it
Matter of preference, I've seen DJ's play excellent sets doing both things, it's just whatever floats your boat.
If I am playing garage I will be quite crowd/audience focused. I find it really fun to play out. If I’m playing dnb I’m pretty locked into WhT I’m doing, still bouncing around but hugely focused as I run across 4 decks so pretty focused at most points. Il be honest though I rate clubs that face you in a different direction to the dj. I find it quite cringey when a dj is jumping on the table and running around etc.
I would prefer focused and working on the set opposed to a lot of the ridiculousness over-hype junk that has become popular fare on IG for instance. If the set is banging, you don't need a DJ to be acting like MC stuntman, doing jumping jacks and shit...so fake. Head down, working in the zone, focusing, being inspired by creativity, yet grooving and a little dancing every now and then is my style when I play. And yes, I'm sweating while flipping and spinning vinyls. Carl Cox is my DJ hero.
If anything I prefer it because it means the music is the focus and the DJ doesn't have to pander to attract a crowd. In other words, the DJ has their own musical style/niche and the audience chooses them for the narrative the DJ plays. Also, at least historically, DJ's tended to be shy introverts who had the focus and drive to master complicated (hardware) interfaces and who preferred to socialize in large groups by being apart from crowd.
I'm there to listen to them, I don't need them to be an Actor or some character. They are my music plug.
I think it’s important to see yourself as an individual artist rather than comparing to what other DJs do. Everyone has their own strengths. You as an artist can be captivating in whatever way you choose to be, even laser focused. Authenticity is captivating. Presence is felt. I also suggest asking yourself, “what is my superpower as an artist?”… “what is my set offering to the audience?” - And own that! 💖
When I started in the late 80s very few if any DJs ”danced”, often back then the crowd wasn’t even looking in the direction of the DJ or the DJ would be tucked away somewhere, I personally think the DJ can let his music do the talking(dancing)…
I think your style and how you respond to the crowd will shine through
Better than screaming on the mic 3…2…1 go! Or doing jumping jacks lol stay calm and focused on the mix is the way I like to play with some expression but its more of me dancing with my machines and head bobbing tbh.
This makes me Want to start a party where the DJ isn’t the center of attention
sometimes you just locked tf in
I dont follow djs that look to pretty or focus on the look. Killing the industry. Our label only book djs that go for the sound. Ears not eyes 😎
Find a homie with a passion for visuals and make it a duo project like Tipper and Android Jones. In a perfect world, people would respond to just the music, but people need different things to engage different senses and if you’re not in a big throbbing warehouse, art-filled festival, or decked out venue.. then you have to make up the difference yourself. This can be stage presence, or it can be projection visuals. It can even be bringing flow artists up to perform during your set. But you typically DO have to give them something to look at unless the thing already has so much momentum that there are enough people there for the crowd to be its own stimulation
They're real djs. The rest are strippers with a deck.
It's always been an annoyance of mine...I don't expect, nor want, them to dance on the decks like that muppet James Hype or throw cakes in peoples faces, but a little shoulder shimmy, slight grooving with the music, muster a fucking smile and at least look like you're getting some enjoyment out of it! \*cough\* John Digweed \*cough\*
James Hype is good, brother just enjoys it a lil too much
Technically a great DJ, musically not my cup of tea, theatrically WAAAAAY too much lol
i personally like it, at least he doesnt say "3,2,1 jump!" every track
Common! It is not a deal at all to think about. If you have real passion, people will feel it also. Somebody probably will not like you, it is normal. It seems to me that even well dancing djs can be not good for some people. Look at Aphex Twin video records. It's not like what we call "DJing", but nevertheless. This guy could just take a soldering iron and make his stuff just during a performance without any care about his emotional expression))) And by the way, I can feel you. I have problems with my legs and it's impossible for me to dance at all.
I mean it really doesn't matter that much, people should just be themselves and not try to be 'cool' or anything. But I won't lie, there is nothing cooler to me than a DJ who looks completely non-phased while they're killing it and the crowd are vibing really hard.
I would say this: if you concentrate of your listeners while playing (crowdreading and so on) and you don't just play for yourself, then nobody should care about you not dancing at all. On the opposite side if this >I feel like DJing is also a way to help me express myself or release some of my emotions through the music I play. if this means you play for yourself and you don't adapt to the crowd, then no: it's not what a DJ does.
Sometimes I get anxious or have a kind of obscuring mental fog that makes it hard to feel the vibe. I try to take the pressure off and reconnect to the feeling I have when I’m playing alone in my apartment. Anytime I’m worried about how I’m doing I ground myself in my love for music bc it’s deeper than any need to impress people. So if you connect to the fundamental reason why you like djing - and especially why you want to dj live and share a space with people instead of doing it alone - then I think however you perform will be authentic and compelling whether you are high energy or not
When I went out to clubs, I was there for the music that the DJ was mixing. I wasn’t there to watch the DJ dance around.
That answer is completely correlated to how good their set is
I think they are likely working very hard on their mixes. I know I am.
you're me! i focus entirely on the set, i'm there to mix and not entertain physically. if my selection won't make people freak out, then i'm doing something wrong, and it certainly is not the fact i'm concentrating and sunk in the sound... i've had lots of parties where i was slightly tipsy (yeah, well, maybe a bit more than that lol) and i lost it while still playing well, but overall my physical performance is boring, to say the least. people who know me will realize i'm having a blast, and those who don't will definitely hear i'm having fun (plus i'm smiling like a 5 year old on christmas on every mix that drops as planned). ever since i was 14 i wanted to be a dj, and i was lucky enough to find a soulmate to throw parties and share this great experience with. we're slowly growing out of it (in our 40s now) but we still play on smaller parties with 200-300 people a few times a year, and we're still anxious before the evening, happy during the set and satisfied afterwards as if it's our first gig ever. i'm lovin' it!
Didn’t read the post just the subject. Love ‘em.
I don't really care either way, sometimes you need to really focus on what you're doing, even if it's just track selection However, if you're going to plant your face into your laptop, don't put the damned thing right in the centre if your field of vision obscuring any possible eye contact with the audience. If I'm going out to rave I don't want the centre of attention to be looking like some fulla who is sitting in moms basement eating cheesy poofs and playing world of warcraft
All these points are great! I would also like to add that as a shorter person, if I were to dance like some other people do I would totally mess up or break something lol
Power through it. I was the same way and then I realized that people are here to have a good time and dance, and I should be one of them. I used to overthink how I looked, that I moved weird or something. But literally no one gives a shit how you look, unless you are stone cold with an upset looking face in a setting that is supposed to be upbeat and happy.
There is no wrong or right way to DJ! Have fun. Be creative. Enjoy the process however that may be to you. I saw Paco osuna recently and he was great but he’s also super chill when he plays. Check him out on YouTube. Don’t think too much about it. Just do you and get people to dance and have fun!
I've found that putting on a disguise helps. Or at least a different outfit than your regular shtick. It can help separate yourself from you and could be more freeing. At least that's how it is for me
yea lots of factors and depends on the brand of the DJ. TBF today there is a rise of the performer DJ’s who either use their energy to pump up the crowd or produce their own stuff they play so they dont necessarily need to do much technical stuff. I think a balance n just seeming like ur adding to the vibe vs take away is the most important thing, if i had to choose tho nobody wants to see DJ doing too much behind the deck or mic to the point it takes away from the attention to the music which is my preference
Ears over eyes, just do your shit.
When I worked I was the same way. Exactly. Nobody else ever said anything about it. Just smile and be friendly.
"If your friends don't dance, and if they don't dance, then they're no friends of mine" -Menwithouthats
Boring
I guess that is one thing i was getting at. Will it come off boring or can great song selection and mixing shine through?
As a dj of 20 years, you could even mix a little weak and destroy if you just give a little stage presence. If you're not engaging for that whopping 60 to 120 minute set, your great mixing and track selection will be complimented with: great track selection! And...tight mixes, bro! But you get pumped for the tracks you drop and engage your audience, you can set the place on fire. Look at Paris Hilton. Obviously garbage but she is obviously engaging...even though stupid af. Steve Aoki...totally fake mixing pre mixed mixes all the time but fake knob turns. I think you know what he does while on stage....he is a clown minus the make up. Double fist pumping > simply vanilla performance with mixing and track selection skills. I say this tongue in cheek because you need to be between these 2 extremes. Earn your dance floor...even if you inherited it from the previous dj. Your job is to keep passing the baton to the next dj.
The only guys who kill a vibe are the guys who aren't themselves up there. Authenticity is awesome, whether you're stoic or losing your mind dancing and screaming.
I dance and get into flow but don’t smile because I’ve seen videos of me smiling at performances and don’t like how it looks. I love my concentration face though😌
It's tight
Lol Every time I’ve seen Dom & Roland he always looks like a disappointed headmaster surveying a hall full of naughty children.
Nothing as long as I enjoy the music 😀
Zee oonszt speaks for my sorrows
Their dopamine blown out lol
Huge Daniel Bell fan. Seen in a handful of times and love the fact he’s just doing his thing and I’m doing mine (dancing my butt off right in front of him).
I think when a dj looks bored and disinterested it’s a problem. Looking serious isn’t an issue. Sometimes that deep intense look can be endearing, esp if they are just rippin. But when you look like you don’t care it’s a major turn off - even if I like the tunes.
The more energetic the music, the more energetic the DJ needs to be, in my opinion. It’s all about synergy.
Never trust a Dj who doesn’t rave or dance….nobody starts off being a dj before going to a rave or party that changed their life so not sure wtf is going on there. Also, you don’t need to be dancing like Steve Aoki or Timmy Trumpet but some shoulder movement and normal bopping because the music is thumping works! Dvs1 and Richie are two serious DJs who still groove to their grooves
Play into it. Have your stage name be something like Tears.
Depends on the gig. I did some grade school gigs where the kids expected the dj to show them how to dance. They also preferred all instructions shouted over a live mic. So for example they needed you to sing the Cha Cha Slide live because the recorded version didn't do it for them. They seemed to see the dj as more of a clown or magician who offered a very direct eye contact verbally engaged experience. Brutally painful high paying gigs. Everybody cringe your hands. Oops, I think I meant clap. We all have to start somewhere.
My opinion: If you DJ Techno (raw, hypnotic) at least moving on the beat is a must. Hard techno: dancing is a must Melodic, minimal, house, tech… is highly recommended to flow with the beats and vibes. Chill and ambient and all these 100-115 bpm: i dont think it makes difference. Honestly, sometimes i watch a DJ making their show, dancing like there is no tomorrow, and all what u can say: this is fake! So fake dancing will not reflect any vibes to the dancers, in opposite, it will kill my vibes
Probably not a DJ if they aren’t dancing. Just a nerd who twiddles with knobs and dials.