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Written by Jaron Lewis
If it’s your first time performing live, you might be a little nervous. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with tips and techniques that will help you ditch those nerves and put on an amazing show. Don’t worry, we didn’t include the age-old trick of picturing everyone naked; we know that doesn’t actually work.
If you plan out your show to the point that you know what songs you want to play, the transitions you’ll use, and the jokes you’ll make, things will go a lot smoother when you want throw in some improvisation. Sure the best DJs improvise a lot of their shows, but more of them are rehearsed than you might think.
It’s completely understandable if you don’t want to take requests from the audience, but that doesn’t mean you should stick strictly to one genre or, heaven forbid, one artist. Feel free to mix it up as your audience will have varying tastes. That way, you’re sure to please everyone with at least one song. Variety is the key to a great and entertaining show.
Playing the same genre or the same artist too much can make your show seem monotonous, rather than interesting. Don’t fall into this trap and ruin your reputation.
Before your show, make sure you’re aware of the music scene of your crowd. You wouldn’t want to play the wrong thing and have everyone leave disappointed; you want to give the audience a show they’ll enjoy and remember. You also want to anticipate the size of the crowd for sound purposes and so you won’t be caught off-guard.
If you’re expecting a small crowd and are surprised by a large one, that shock can set your nerves off and leave you quivering on stage with stage fright. Likewise, if you’re expecting a large crowd and see a small crowd, you might be disappointed and not give your performance the focus and attitude your audience deserves.
If you’re stressed out or your performance is too rigid, too rehearsed, your audience will know. You need to come to the performance with energy and with flexibility and fun in mind. As long as you’re flexible, your improvisation will seem sincerer and go over better.
You may be super nervous for your first live DJ gig, but if you follow these few steps, you’ll be prepared to make a confident performance that your audience will love and remember. As long as you stay calm and have fun, your audience will notice and your performance will be much better.
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