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So I have my first show coming up, im pretty excited but a little nervous. I've played in numerous other bands in a spread of genres, but this is my first show performing dubstep. Im pretty comfortable mixing, but what I'm more worried about is my presence. I've been watching other DJs perform and there seems to be a lot of finger-guns and claw-hands.

What do you guys like to see your DJ doing? Or do you not care and just want to hear great music? Should I just do a bunch of drugs and just completely let go?

dont really give a fuck what you're doing as long as the selection and mixing is on point
wether it be eyes down or gun finger headbanging most people wont really care.
If you relax and dont worry about it im sure you'll put on a much better show than someone who is worrying about how they look

good luck too let us know how it goes

Sheff wrote:dont really give a fuck what you're doing as long as the selection and mixing is on point
wether it be eyes down or gun finger headbanging most people wont really care.
If you relax and dont worry about it im sure you'll put on a much better show than someone who is worrying about how they look

Thats a really good point, Thanks Sheff.

Try and read the crowd also.

Don't keep them going crazy all the time, try and keep variety in your set to make the big bangers even more special.

standard ash...variety is good! keep em guessing!

Depends on whether you're playing at the peak of the night or at the start. For me presence and ability to read the crowd are the most valuable things. If you're playing at the peak you need to look like you're REALLY enjoying yourself if you're playing straight bangers. Otherwise just being able to control your selection and keeping flow. Then comes the tight mixes. I always look to the soundsystems which play reggae-, steppers-, dub-dubplates: They never mix tightly, but because they hype the music, they play good tunes and they look like they love, it really doesn't matter that they don't mix.

just have fun, although I've been told I need to stop looking so serious when I mix

middle finger to the crowd whenever you have a free hand.... standard

fractal wrote:middle finger to the crowd whenever you have a free hand.... standard

Hahaha, i'll give that a go.

fractal wrote:middle finger to the crowd whenever you have a free hand.... standard

fucking brilliant

Teo wrote:

fractal wrote:middle finger to the crowd whenever you have a free hand.... standard

fucking brilliant

can't take credit for it... zombles style!

nitzdaking wrote:

So I should shave my head, and photoshop women behind me?

that picture is golden

Like Ashley said, reading your crowd is key. The ideal DJ set, imo, has a tone that is set as much by the crowd as it is by the DJ. Take a moment and think, 'What does my crowd want right now?'

The answer will depend on a lot of things; what the DJ before you played, how many people are at the event your playing, and how nice the soundsystem is (among other things). One of the great failings of the majority of dubstep DJs in the USA is that they play too many hard/heavy tracks in a row. In their sets, the crowd is constantly bombarded by a barrage of these tracks and it gets to the point where they no longer appreciate every song for what it is. Knowing what song to play next is key. Your crowd might want a Skream banger, or they might be a bit tired of the heavy stuff and want to chill for a song or two.

Think of your set as taking people on a rollercoaster ride, it's not very fun if all there is are large drops after large drops, people get desensitized. You have to swing them around, build them up and then back down. Having several go-to mellow tracks that you can mix in at any time is as important as having several go-to banger tracks.

As for how you're looking up there, your mixing/track selection will speak much louder than your actions ever could. Keep in mind that if the dancefloor is oriented so that everyone is dancing at the DJ rather than amongst themselves, then it changes the dynamic a bit. I personally am of the opinion that the DJ should be the one most into the music being played, because if you're not into it, how can you expect anyone else to be? Being yourself (as cliche as that sounds) is going to make you come across as genuine, and interesting to watch, and is one of the most powerful tools in your arsenal.

Summary: Read your crowd, have a good time, be yourself.

Good luck!

Dont be Gaslamp Killer. (He gets a little too excitable).
Dont pre-mix your sets.
Dont play anything thats less than 320 quality.
Dont forget your headphones.
Dont stage dive.
Dont have chicks or water in the booth.

All about the look!

nitzdaking wrote:

...

Don't mock the Ill.

everything the oppisite of what LA said... cept the premix, don't do that!

ENTERTAIN MUTHA FUKA!!

!!chea