Hey Mr. DJ!
Playing good music during a house party is crucial to bring the party to the next level. Luckily, with limited means and a few smart tricks a lot is possible! Below some easy tips 'n tricks to get it on!
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KPI: key performance indicatorNow that I got your attention, let's talk business: what is the Key Performance Indicator at a party? You guessed it, in the majority of parties you want the girls to dance! The guys will surely follow afterwards. Adjust your playlist accordingly. Mind that this KPI also requires other prime party ingredients mentioned elsewhere on this site:
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Know your audienceIt is a tremendous help if you know your audience. For example, if you have more of a certain type of people (geographically, culturally, or socially), it would be epic if you can find out what they like on beforehand. Don't be shy! Your efforts will surely raise your status to that of a DJ-legend!
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Hardware: safety firstSadly, even very old laptops are easily stolen. Think therefore on beforehand what you can do to protect your stuff, while you are away. Simple things like connecting your laptop lock may get you a long way. Another very useful trick is to enable the music to play while you close the screen. This enables you to hide the laptop easily when you go for a leak. This also prevents people from messing with your playlist!
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Software: search optionDuring the party, you may remember a song from your database that would be perfect to play. However, due to circumstances (like a moderate state of inebriation) you forgot where you stored it. In this case, rely on the search option in your software. Make sure you know how it works: it will save your ass!
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The pre-party!If there is one thing more fun than a party, it is two parties! Explore therefore your preparations in a not-so-well planned pre-party. Just make sure this party does not hamper the allure and reputation of the mother party, and you're good to go. At this party you can experiment with different types of music.
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Music: length times threeDuring the party, you will see that playing a full song of 4-5 min may be a bit too much. To keep the flow going often around 2 minutes will do the trick. Make sure therefore to have enough songs. Usually about 3 times the length of the party of solid must-play songs will do the trick. Below, I have added a few hours of good material. Of course, access is limited to good friends of mine.
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Phase 1: start of the partyThe first phase of the party is when the majority of the people are coming in and the party has not really begun. Here you can play some easy popular songs at a not-so-loud volume, so that people can still talk. Importantly, as the music is more on the background, you can recycle the songs played easily for later!
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Phase 2: party is getting startedThe second phase is when the gathering of people starts to turn into an actual party. The larger number of people reduces visibility and the intake of some drinks looses them up. Some of them may even start dancing a bit already. Music volume can go up and you could play some contemporary dance hits mixed with some tasteful dance classics. Here you may begin with layering of the effects. The mirror ball and the black light will give the folks the impression that something is growing here...
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Phase 3: that's what I'm talkin' about!Alright, you made it to phase 3, excellent! This is the core of the party, and features the highest density of dancing. Here you unleash the mother of all dance music: latin music! It does not matter your race/colour/shape/form: everybody enjoys these tropical spirit enhancers (and are naturally included in the suggested music list above). Unleash the remaining effects with the smoke machine last, to come to an epic climax!
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Phase 4: MayhemThe final phase of the party is when the first of the people start leaving, and the remaining people may start to act potentially crazy. Here, the focus on KPI's can be reduced, and you could venture on some crazy songs (like 90s dance for example). Also, play something for yourself, at this stage you deserve it!
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Phase 4: Honor & PrideEventually though in phase 4, you will be playing songs for a thinning dance floor, while in the meantime more and more ridiculous requests start to pour in. At this stage you can keep the honor to yourself and call it a night. The sharp decline of the music quality after your unfortunate departure will surely be noticed, and contribute to your already legendary status!
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Song requestsWith so many people, so many music tastes. When inebriated, people often start to ask for their favourite song. However, they do not realize that that specific song can kill the party. Hence, stick to your KPI and only take (good) requests from girls. Should a guy come back repeatedly, play the song he wants but be ready to cut to a normal song within 20 s.
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The cut: shameful but necessaryWe have all been there: you play a song you like a lot and suddenly you are faced with 50 people looking at you strange or even booing you... In this case, simply cut the song and quickly move to the next like nothing ever happened. Importantly, make sure that the automated crossfade also works when you cut songs...
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Youtube?Often requests tackle songs that you do not have, but that (of course) can be found on Youtube. In this case, avoid at all cost to start 'Youtube-DJ-ing' as Youtube is not very suitable. It includes too many adds and does not enable to crossfade easily. A solution is to download the song from Youtube, and then add it to your list. The good thing of this protocol that after the party you will have pimped you music library!
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Known is kingIn order to avoid shameful events like 'the cut', a useful trick is to check whether your audience knows the song. In general, people like to hear songs they know already, and do not appreciate it to be 'educated' by a snobbish DJ. The latter only becomes more true when the general level of inebriation increases...
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Song requests: Recognize!At a party, you may notice that a certain person keeps requesting songs, and that these songs are -to your surprise- very good indeed! In this case, do not feel insulted, but simply acknowledge this partner in crime, and make sure you download all the suggestions for the next party!
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Black light: psychedelicBlack lights have been around for ages to give parties that spooky exotic look. Again, LED lights deliver a more potent and compact light, and are preferred over the old fashioned fluorescent blacklights. For as little as 40 USD you have a powerful set of LED blacklights. Add some blacklight paint to your order and your party will be epic...
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