As an aspiring DJ, the first type of show you’ll need to master is the opening DJ set. In the early stages of your career you’re not going to be playing the headlining slots at major club nights. In fact, your job will be to warm up the crowd for the headliners. An opening DJ set is a skill unto itself and it’s an important step on the road to becoming a top DJ.
Here are a few key points on nailing an opening DJ set and eventually getting yourself booked for those later set times.
1. Research The Venue
This is an important tip for any set that you ever play. Knowing where you’re playing will help you cater your set to the audience that you’re playing to. It’s especially important for an opening DJ set because you’ll be setting the tone for the entire night. In many cases you’ll be spinning as people are starting to arrive and order drinks, so you can almost think of your set as background music, which is why you’ll want your tunes to match the vibe of the venue.
2. Research The Headliner
As we mentioned previously, your job with an opening DJ set is to set the tone for the night. One of the best ways to do this is to spend some time researching the headlining act. Know what kind of tracks they’re playing so that your set gets the crowd in the right mindset for the headliners. If the headliner is going to be throwing down hard Electro it’s probably not a good call for your opening DJ set to be bedroom Trap. You should also know who’s playing after you because it’s NEVER cool to play someone else’s tracks right before they go on.
3. Read The Crowd
When you play an opening DJ set it’s important to remember that most people in the crowd didn’t pay to see you. This isn’t the time to break out all your favorite tracks. In fact, for an opening DJ set, your tracks should lean towards the crowd-pleasing side of things. That’s why it’s more crucial than ever to pay attention to the dance floor and see what people are feeling. If people are still at the bar and standing by the wall don’t be afraid to switch up the style completely to draw them on to the dance floor; you want to have it rocking by the time the main act takes the stage. At the same time you don’t want to drop a bunch of bangers that will steal focus from the headliner. Playing an opening DJ set is all about finding that balance.
4. Do Your Job – It’s An Opening DJ Set!
The bottom line here is to remember what your role is for these gigs: playing an opening DJ set. Your job is to warm up the crowd and get people on the dance floor for the headliner. This is not your time to bring out the big guns, but it’s still a major opportunity for you if you do it right. By impressing promoters and other DJ’s with your opening DJ set you’ll be on your way to better and better gigs. They’re also a great chance to have some fun DJing in a lower pressure environment. Opening DJ sets are the best way for you to get experience DJing in public and that’s the best kind of practice there is.
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