Chapter 25

Ten DJing Mistakes to Avoid

In This Chapter

Avoiding mistakes that make you look and sound unprofessional

Leaving for the night with all your equipment and tunes, after being paid in full

The ten common mistakes I describe in this chapter are exactly that: common. A couple of them may never happen to you, but, unfortunately, some may happen all too often. I haven’t made all the mistakes in this chapter. Most of them, yes. But not all … yet.

What’s important about the mistakes you make (in DJing or just life in general) is that you learn from them. Make sure that you don’t repeat them, or at the very least, make sure that you know how to cope with the consequences … such as the sound of silence in a club.

Forgetting Slipmats/Headphones/Laptop

Forgetting your slipmats (which is an easy thing to do) isn’t too much of a big deal, because most clubs have their own set, but if you fail to bring your headphones, the club is unlikely to have a spare pair of quality headphones lying around for forgetful DJs to use.

Forgetting any part of your digital DJ setup (laptop, cables, controller/control vinyl, audio interface or hard drive) is a lot worse, as it’s unlikely the club will just happen to have a computer with your software and your music library on it! Making a list and checking it twice isn’t just for Santa Claus!

Check out Chapter 26 for a checklist of ten things you need to take with you when DJing.

Taking the Needle off the Wrong Record

Taking the needle off the wrong record is exactly the same as pressing stop or eject on the wrong CD player. I guarantee that at some stage in your DJ career, you’ll make this mistake. Hopefully, you’ll be in the sanctuary of your own bedroom, where only the cat can judge you on your error.

Some digital DJing programs get part way around this by having a setting which makes it impossible to load a new tune into a deck that’s currently playing – but you still have to remember not to touch the controls for the deck that is playing – or press the wrong button on the controller/mixer.

If you’re unfortunate enough to make this mistake when DJing live in a club, put the needle back on (carefully; don’t throw it back on the record in a mad panic) or quickly press play on the CD deck (or software). If you ejected the CD, it’ll take a while to load again. So press play on the other deck and quickly move the cross-fader over to that channel.

Next, take responsibility. No excuses. Say sorry and move on with the night.

Banishing Mixer Setting Problems

Leaving assign controls set to the wrong channel, so that when you move the cross-fader, you fade into silence (or the wrong tune) is easily done. Or you may unwittingly leave bass kills on during a mix, and it only dawns on you halfway through the tune that the bass is missing. And you can easily leave on effects like flangers, filters or echo, because you’re focusing your attention on the next tune (or the girl/bloke on the dance floor). A lapse of concentration is all it takes to ruin a good mix (and your night) – so concentrate!

Getting Drunk while Playing

You need to be fully in control of your equipment, but you won’t be able to do that if you’ve had too many beers or Jacks back there in the DJ booth. Having a couple of alcoholic drinks for Dutch courage is all very well, but no one’s going to think you’re professional if you’re so plied with booze that you can’t even see the mixer in front of you and can’t mix properly.

I’ve heard tales of DJs guzzling a case of Bud before going behind the decks. If you must drink, have one or two – and then stick to water.

Surfing while Mixing

A mistake for the digital DJs out there. You have a computer in front of you and you’re connected to the club’s Wi-Fi – surely it can’t hurt to check a couple of emails or update your Facebook status? Take it from me, you’ll spend too long away from the mix and either have to rush the next transition or miss the next mix altogether, leaving silence and tumbleweed on the dance floor. Worse than that though, software you run outside your DJ software may disrupt the computer, causing it to freeze or crash! Rebooting will plunge your mix into silence for the longest five minutes of your life!

Leaning Over the Decks

As the DJ, you’re the host of the evening, and you’re allowed to show or receive some appreciation (handshakes and kisses on the cheeks being the best way). Just make sure you’re appreciated a little to the left of the decks, so that you don’t bump into them or hit something on the mixer.

Avoiding Wardrobe Malfunctions

Avoiding a wardrobe malfunction is harder than you think. From jeans that are cut too low (so when you bend over to pick up a record, everyone can see your butt cleavage) to ladies wearing a white bra under a black top so the UV lights show off their glowing chests, you’d be surprised what can go wrong.

Hats, scarves, ponchos and false beards will all eventually get tangled up in your equipment or fall onto the decks. If you’re thinking of DJing in fancy dress, have a dress rehearsal at home first. You may look amazing as Wolverine behind the decks, but be sure those claws don’t scratch the tunes!

Spending Too Long Talking to Someone

Stay professional: don’t spend so long talking to a friend, potential employer or member of the opposite sex that you don’t have enough time to properly cue up and mix in the next track. Even if you do have enough time to cue up the tune, don’t rush the mix just so you can go back to talking. And whatever you do, don’t spend so long talking to someone that the record runs out completely; unless, of course, you want to get fired.

Leaving Your Last Tune Behind

If you’re just doing part of the night and someone’s taking over from you, chances are you finished your set on a really good tune, so you don’t want to leave it behind. Wait until the next DJ has mixed out of your last tune, then pick up your record/CD, pack your bags and leave the booth. If you’re pulled away by someone, ask the DJ to put your tune to one side and say that you’ll pick it up later – at least that way he or she won’t walk off with it by accident.

And digital DJs: remember to leave with all of your setup …

Getting Paid Before You Leave

After a night rocking the crowd, don’t leave the club before you’ve been paid in full. Don’t fall for excuses such as: ‘I don’t have my cheque book’ or ‘I don’t have it all here; can I give you half now and the rest next time?’ I’ve fallen for this in the past (with club promoters who I thought I could trust; the irony of being stung like this in a club called Pravda – Russian for truth – is still very much with me).

Every case is different, and you should know how much you can push and stand your ground with the club promoter or owner or bride and groom to demand payment. The safest thing to do is to agree on an amount before you set foot in the DJ booth. That way, you can be very persistent about making sure that you get all the money you’re owed.

An agreement is especially important if you’re a wedding or party DJ. Draw up a contract and make sure it’s signed by you and the people hiring you. This will give them the confirmation they need that you have been booked – and it will give you something to refer back to when it comes to payment.