I have a list that I give to the couple to send to their guests : the name of the list is: I WILL DANCE IF YOU PLAY (works every time).. I even suggest to purchase cheap comfy sandals for the ladies to take their high heels off and get their bootie on the dance floor.
Omgsh i love your vidoes i actually just found you and have been watching some of them! I wish you could do my wedding so bad! it really sounds like you know what your doing!
have you done any mix lesson? i would love to learn from you. ie, you bounce around so many different tempos, grooves and styles, you could match it with the best. much respect and thank you
A huge lesson learned for me years back was a wedding where I couldn't get a single soul out on the dance floor, for hours! I was shitting my pants the whole time and then at the end of the night the bride and groom came up and gave me a hug and said what a good time they had. That's when I learned not everyone's idea of a successful wedding was the same as mine, some people just wanna crush drinks and talk shit while they listen to some good music!
Nothing confuses me more than the end of a night where I think it was a slower one...and the come up to say it's the best wedding they've ever been to...and I hand out a dozen business cards. Go with it, but in your head...that WTF is warranted. lol
@@MBrulla I had a wedding where the B&G requested all sorts of Alternative or New Rock and not many favourites. Only they danced, didn't see the parents dance at all. I thought I really shagged things up. At the end of the night, the B&G were happy and I met their parents after and I said, I am sorry that I wasn't able to play more tunes to your liking and they said, this was their night, not ours. For that they thought I did a great job. That was a huge lesson learned for me.
I am a FIRM believer if people are not dancing but are vibing to the music, enjoying the music, you as a Dj have succeeded. I dont care who you are..You cant make people dance..period.
Agreed - hell, sometimes I'll shout out to those dancing at their tables or at the bar and throw one out dedicated to them. I don't care where you are, what you're doing...if you're having a good time that's what matters.
Had a gig I thought I flopped I played almost all the hits you can think of even asked myself what have i done wrong today. Long story short at the end of the wedding the bride and groom came to me and gave me a generous tip and thanked me they said they had the time of their life and had a good time so my worries were all in my head
I been a DJ since the late 80's, done hundreds of parties, weddings, concerts, sweet 16's etc, etc, i noticed the last few years people are not engaged like they used to be, I blame social media n cell phones, especially at high school reunion gigs, people basically see everybody on facebook n chat, The desire to engage with others has diminished , Between people going outside to smoke, or people on their phones its more difficult then ever to earn their interest, years ago EVERY!!! gig was a wild packed dance floor n great time, now its alot different
One of the pros I shadowed under for a number of weddings turned to me one night as we gazed out onto a truly empty dance floor, at a wedding, was: "If you're playing songs you've been asked to play, playing them well, and your sixth sense of good music/timing/beat matching is on point, it's not your fault if no one dances. There are some people who honestly never learned to or don't like to dance. That's no one's fault" Best advice I ever heard other than buy active speakers instead of passive.
Also, remain SOBER as a Dj to be 100% alert and to be able to exercise the things nick talked about! And 1 more suggestion (it works in these types of situations, simply ask "If there are any dancers in the house, I TAKE REQUEST! AND THEY WILL GET THE DANCING STARTED!
Absolutely. As I've always said, it could be your 300th, or 700th, or 1200th wedding, but it's (usually, lol) the couples first, and you therefore still need to treat it like it's the most important event you've ever done.
I've had 2 covid weddings that I was crapping myself because nobody would dance no matter what I played. Both times the couples thanked me up and down and said everyone had a great time and that so many people hadn't seen each other in so long due to covid that they were all visiting and catching up instead of dancing
you can talk to the guests at cocktail hour..ask what they like as well. Yeah, daylight barn weddings with a lot of smokers...not a lot of dancing. i've had weddings where they only slow dance, or only dance to participation songs (shuffle, slide, ymca, etc) And i've had weddings where everyone dances no matter what you play. I also tell every bride- YOU are the reason everything is there - if you are on the dance floor so will they, if you spend all night in the bar, so will they.
As a DJ of 40+ years, you absolutely nailed in here Nick. I had to figure all this out on my own and it took time. Much respect to you for sharing this DJ wisdom. Mixing dinner music is a valuable gem to get a feel for the crowd to do the initial connect. This is the single best psychology of the art of DJ'ing I've ever seen.
I’m a club DJ transitioning to weddings (yay more money) but STRUGGLE mentally so much with groups that don’t dance. This mindset shift I think will really help. Give it everything you got and you can leave head held high ❤️
I DJ Latin dance events (salsa, bachata) and corporate gigs. These are my observations: (1) flow is key, smooth transitions but with subtle cues to inform the crowd next song is coming up. I also freestyle, and not having fixed sets allows me to adapt quickly. (2) prep, prep prep. Prepping is key [beat gridding, set your cue points etc]. Last thing you want is to be prepping music at the gig! (3) impact. Don't ever be afraid to do massive bpm/energy changes, I find that this works when you build a crescendo( with high energy bangers), then drop the night by bringing out the slow stuff. Timing is key to this so you gotta pick the right moment to do this. (4) have fun. As the DJ, if you are not having fun, the crowd will feel it consciously and subconsciously and are less compelled to dance. (5) Hifi sound files. Personally as a dancer, I value high quality tracks. So I download all my tracks at 24 bit + sampling rate of 96 khz (FLAC) and then use platinum notes to get rid of clipped peaks. I use a Traktor s4 controller and it allows 96 khz sampling, this does make an audible difference, and the percussion feels a lot fuller.
I DJ for 30 years before I stopped, this is wonderful advice. Sometimes I give up and others I just followed the routine I practiced. It’s frustrating but If you rocked 70% of your gigs mostly likely it’s the people. I also experienced situations where only 10 people dance all night but everyone told me they enjoyed the music. Some folks don’t dance much but they enjoy hearing good mixing
I've been a DJ for 25 years, not a SINGLE COUPLE knew what's working. It's not their job. I always waited till some promil... play 2 killers, take it from there and never had an empty floor the rest of the night... just playing my own shit. "Never thought they liked this" blablabla... Style doesn't matter, just play with the energy. Good sound is key.
Good video Nick! Your next one should be “what to do when you have a packed dance floor but the bride & groom never come out to dance? This happened to me 4-5 years ago. Had a packed dance floor pretty much the whole night with the guests but my bride & groom never danced. At the end of the night, they were very quiet when I thanked them for hiring me for there wedding and congratulated them. The next day, they sent me an email saying that they were disappointed and that there wedding was ruined. So from that wedding on….communication is HUGE for me and ALWAYS ask your bride & groom for a do not play list!!! No exceptions!
DJed private events and weddings for 10 years. This is hands down the best advice I’ve ever heard. I burnt out after not having control over contact with the bride and groom after years of not being able to prepare properly and going into every gig blind. Take Nick’s advice as gospel if you don’t want to burn out like me.
Wow! You hit the nail on the head. All the DJs I speak to never admit that they may have a slow crowd. They say they that they Always rock it all the time. And I know they're full of s***. I respect your honesty. Everything your saying is very true. Especially the part about not giving up and putting your head down and mixing. And getting out on the floor with the mic trying to motivate the people and using the bride and groom's name. All these techniques I do as well. And like you said you will get crowds like Doctor Residency.Or a early wedding. A religious wedding. A wedding with no alcohol. Certain corporate events.. you have to also consider all crowds drink different. Meaning they might take longer to get intoxicated or more fired up. Sometimes you're doing everything properly they're just not fired up yet or intoxicated enough. This is one of the reasons why weddings are formatted. Cocktail hour and dinner hour. All these things build you to the point where the Dancefloor finally gets going .You can't push it early if there not ready.. I've done some weddings where they didn't rock until the last hour. And that played to my advantage because they were now drunk and they now wanted me to do overtime and not stop.
It is so cool and important that you bring up this topic. I've been DJing at weddings for 30 years. At every preliminary meeting with the bridal couple, I draw their attention to one fact: the dance floor may be empty at times. And any DJ who guarantees his is always packed...is lying. As a club (resident) DJ you know your audience and can concentrate on your mix skills. As a Wedding DJ, you need to read the dance floor. And that's a skill you can't just learn. That is a matter of experience. But you're right about all of your advice. These reduce the chance of this happening to you. One of the most important videos I've seen from you so far. RESPECT
I had a wedding where a trainee was with me and the dance floor was packed until the groom came up and asked us to play really hard-core rap music. I'm talking back yard cook out weed smoking rap music. It killed the floor which sucked, but at the end of the night the groom handed us a $200 tip and I knew he and the bride were happy.
at one point when i was doing a birthday party, i saw an empty dance floor and panicked, but the parents (it was a 4 yo party) loved my djing and gave me a fat check lol
I had a couple flat out tell me they aren’t dancers. I had one person on the dance floor the entire evening, so I entertained that one person and had nothing but compliments from the bride and groom!
Nick talks a lot about “freakin’ and stressing’ out” during weddings! The best thing that I found to fix this problem…stop doing weddings! Every 4-5 hour wedding is 12 hours of work and it comes with high stress and liability. When doing a wedding, you need to cater to the wants and demands of the couple getting married. When doing any other type of function, I get to control the show! I’m no longer willing to give up an entire Saturday anymore! After 24 years, I put the weddings away! For those of you who love doing weddings, this is a great video!
9:03 it's called "rubbernecking" lol great video! great energy and editing and information. I play in a live band but a lot of your points cross over and relate big time, watched the whole video
Hey Nick , awesome video . Not a wedding but a surprise 40th. No one danced. The wife who hired me came up to me after and apologized , sorry my friends are boring 😂😂😂.
Can you do a video breaking down wedding packages and what to charge and also dabble into what to ask a club to pay you? Got my first gig at a small club paying $60 per hour. Next move for me is probably weddings. Appreciate all your videos bro!
Great video! A big lesson I've learned is that sometimes what the couple requests, the guests hate and don't dance to. Once I had guests ask me why I was playing this music, and it was because it's what the couple asked for. At that point you have to do what it takes to get people to dance, couple requests have to be sandwiched in sparingly. The environment is huge..day time, lights on, no spirits...that all makes a difference. LOL! 7:50 is so true! I ALWAYS bring a sub no matter what I'm being paid. Many times if the dance floor is empty, it's time for a slow song. Counter intuitive, but often works. You can often judge the crowd from the first song. If they run out on the first song...will probably be easy. It's also amazing what turning the lights down will do. Speed mixing is also helpful until you find something they like. South Georgia, summertime, heat, humidity, mosquitoes...that's tough.
Great video! I remember many times thinking that the night was bombing because I wasn't playing the right music. After the gig, the bride and groom thanking me for a fantastic job!
Scene. #1 most important part of this. Year #2 most important is what year you're in. If you're in 2023, play stuff from 2000-2023. I know it seems restrictive, but most of the time 2000's dance hits is a big positive reaction. Most of the people 21-40 years of age, will be able to relate to them and sing them. You gotta be able to relate to the environment. DJing for clubs or venues is not about the DJ, it's about the crowd. Period.
Great video, I have been spinning for a long time, one of the things i learned throughout time was to ask for the Maid of Honor's and Best Man's name.. I automatically let them know they were the go to person, the liaison between us, no one else. And in such instances i would call them up to the dj booth and tell them to push the crowd to drag the court onto the dancefloor and proceed to bring out the guest, it helps.. Even sometimes they would just grab the couple on their own or the couple would walk into the dancefloor...
:), Good advice in a fun way. Reset and try again. I will say I tend to do the island idea, the First dance island into a big dance set (with a heap of guilt), sets the tone for the night, then after dinner the interactive island that get's them out and then 30 minutes to the F/D & M/S dance island, which get's me to get everyone to join them and we are off and swimming/dancing to the next island (cake/montage/more toasts). Never quit and never say die, mix your ass off and don't let your dancers drown.
This happened to me and I was like, WTF!? I could not figure out why no one was dancing. I was mixing their requests, popular dance songs, the classics and still, not a single person was dancing. I felt like an idiot and frustrated. Near the end of the night, after my heart rate went through the roof, people were shaking my hand, good job, great music and the wedding couple were happy and hugged me and of course I played it off, lol... I guess some weddings are about meet and greet and some are about celebrating and drinking. Good video Nick... Been DJing for thirty years and every blue moon I get a no dancing group. Grrrr...
I have my first wedding coming up in August. As an older DJ getting started, I am glad you have listed all the songs that I have in some of my playlists to get prepped.
I've been performing live acoustic weddings and parties for 10 years, and just recently, after flexing as a tech house prog DJ at festivals, I thought, hey, why don't I book some DJ party gigs. Books filling up, super stoked. So happy to hear everything you're saying, and actually know the songs your speaking of because I was worried about not having the library. But I got this! Two birthdays next weekend, come at me! 👌
djRetroR... South Africa... My tip is, I ask my client for at least 10 songs I must play. So when I do play their song, I give a shout out. Always get a reaction. Also at most of these private parties, +-2 hours of dance time. So I always keep a solid dance list.
I learned the hard way that sometimes people especially at weddings want to spend most of their time catching with family members and friends they haven't seen for a long time while drinking and listing to good music. When I saw there was no one on the dance floor no matter what music I played I started to frustrated. As the night went on little by little the dance floor started to fill up. The lesson learned for me is patience.
Its called "Rubber necking", You are an amazing person/ DJ and I've never heard you play a note. Being a great people person helps you adapt in the moment when shit starts going haywire. Being a DJ for weddings is almost tertiary to all the other shit you have to deal with during the whole day! You have it DOWN!! Subbed forever!
Really liked this video, I had a Wedding and hardly no one danced, was a boring wedding, and very stressful. I tried changing things up playing things that I always get people out on the floor. At end of the wedding I went up to the bride and groom, to apologize for guest not dancing. They then told me it wasn't my fault, they were very religious and don't dance. What?!! - I would have liked to known that beforehand. So your comment about getting background info is critical. Vey good video!! Thank you. Maxdb, Ky
This was fantastic advice. I definitely FEEL panicked when I cant get the dancefloor going. Luckily, my instinct always was to put my head down and keep mixing without seeming too desperate.
Late to the party here. I had a college graduation (mexican). I had this scenario happen. I did exactly what you said on this video. I played banger after banger after banger. No one dance. It was a Friday night. 2 hours into my set still no dancing. I made way for the live band. They couldn't get anyone dancing. I started to dance cause I knew how it felt. Anyway, once the band finished up I closed the night and yes I finally got dancers. I asked the guy who hired me and he said I did an amazing job. Right my eyebrow raised higher than the Rock's lol. He said thats how his family is. They all enjoyed it. It does happen but as long as they are boppin their heads thats as good as dancing I guess.
Why not try a line dance or a slow dane? If no one is dancing you got to go to the proven methods cause i rarely play slow songs or line dances but if the bangers aren't working maybe they aren't ready.
My favorite, and I mean "Favorite" thing to do in this world is to find an empty dance floor and hit the 4x4 on the floor till that dance floor comes alive... seriously my favorite thing to do!
Great stuff bro!! - BUT here's my top tip.. if you meet with the couple early enough before they send out their invitations - kindly ask their guests who respond to write their top 3 songs on the back of the invitation. Ive had couples do this a few times and during our first meeting i knew what the whole fucking guests list listened to! Lets just say those are the weddings that i completely fucking grand slammed outta the statium - with couples stumbling at the end of the night from drinking to much thanking me and basically calling me a god! haha! have fun and again good stuff!
The worst... I had one like that where it turned out that not only did they love what I was doing, but even gave me one of my biggest tips and more bookings. Sometimes you never know. But no matter how long we've been doing this. Or how many awesome gigs we have. If they ain't, dancing we're freaking out on our heads. I just keep mixing and smiling while I'm cursing myself in my head. Lol. Awesome video.
That drama tip is REAL. The two moms of the B&G got into it, drinks thrown, everyone...EVERYONE goes outside and watches them fight in the street. Wildest thing ever. Sat at the bar with the coordinator, had a shot of bourbon, saw people coming in and rocked the rest of the night. That first banger that cleared the floor? My GOD - been there. Just what comes with the territory. The night ain't over until it's over. KEEP IT GOING NO MATTER WHAT. Can't Help Falling in Love - 5 couples. Wedding of 200 people. Timber - the NUMBER ONE request from the couple. No one. Shit. Well, keep throwing some stuff out. Mix genres, jump from here to there...and eventually, notice the dude at the bar who has a Pantera patch on his wallet and throw on Walk...and watch the floor PACK. No matter what - you keep going. NO MATTER WHAT.
I make a point always to speak to a grand parent and get a request and if they are just sitting ill use it as the group will always follow. And don't be Playlist wedding dj that will always catch you. So many wedding djs play same songs in the same order maybe change or ad a new song or 2. And forget 80% of the time they had been at the same event the bride and groom heard you. Or the dj does not understand how to read a room thats like u mentioned the job and never seeing somone do it well and explain why they are doing things like watching groups or outgoing people move around the room. People always follow leaders or the cool kids. Great points
Did my first wedding this past Friday 8/6/21. Played some good low key warm up dance songs, that got kids out on the floor....then went stagnant and then broke loose when I played hokey pokey, chicken dance, and macarainna ...🙄 ..but lesson learned trust em when they say hokey pokey and chicken dance.... @ 9:04 - Rubbernecking...
Baited into watching this because even as a 20+ year wedding DJ it's always good to see how other DJs deal with the dreaded empty dance floor. So so much of this video I do physically or mentally already. There's a few tweaks I'll make to how I deal with ebb and flows of the dance floor but preparation is better than cure. I am still amazed how many of my fellow peers (DJs) don't meet thier couples before the wedding. Weddings are more diverse crowds but its easier than say a birthday party when you have done the prep. You know the genres the couple like, thier family like, you defined limits on how far you can take genres and importantly set expectations early. This is particularly crucial when a couple want specific music playing all night for some crowds that can work, but Weddings are diverse so you have to think about everyone and again manage expectations... are the couple willing to let you deviate on the music if the crowd isn't game for the music the couple want. Playlists, We are DJs, not ipods. I welcome playlists and they are a valuable insight to the couples music tastes... and I will try to play what I can from the list. The bangers definitely and if a genre works, keep it going with more from thier listin tnat genre., it's when i feel (from experience) the time is right. Show them photos, videos from previous weddings. Chances are if you are active on social media, the couple have already seen what it can be like but I still meet couples that have never been to a wedding before, they have no concept of the timeline, the music you typically find at a wedding and that they can have a huge influence on that music. Build that report with your couple before the wedding. Preparation is everything.
This was one of my favorite videos you have done. Spot on, While you were talking about the anxiety of no one dancing ,I'm sitting here shaking my head saying YES!! I've felt that pain before, but you are exactly right, put your head down and mix. I usually walk away from those wedding thinking I suck and after 30 + years of doing this, I should hang up my headphones but then you have a couple of people come up to you and ask for your business card. I've actually booked more wedding from the wedding I thought I sucked at than a wedding I thought I was killing it. go figure. Great video, keep them coming!
same here man, 7 years doing weddings here and I remember 2 or 3 really chilled weddings where I struggled to make them dance because they weren't party people and everyone was having their cocktail literally outside and talking, and people came to say thanks and to congratulate me for the music...
Wazzup Nick! Great video! I’ve seen you at the DJ Expo. My husband and I DJ all kinds of parties and clubs, sometimes you have to think outside the box, sometimes a rock remix like AC/DC Shook Me All Night Long, or La Mamamama 😂 if that don’t work, Cupid shuffle, maybe you just might have to say all the ladies on the dance floor, then if that don’t work, you might have to play a game, like first 10 people on the dance floor will win a free CD of Nick’s best remixes, believe me that will work, people love anything free, I’m sure that will loosen them up and then you will own them🤣😂🤣💜🙏💜
Also, SETLIST!!! I don't care what you do or where you spin, at the very least, a partial setlist is a must. Not doing a setlist you have practised is like playing as a live band and not knowing what you're going to play. I think this is mistake number one. Obviously when you have lots of experience, you can do less prep in this regard, but know what you're doing before you're doing. I don't care whether you're Laid Back Luke or a newbie, successful DJ's have prepared setlists.
been watching your channel for awhile and i gotta say you definitely have the best information on youtube regarding the psychology behind DJing. appreciate all the info!
A lot of times ppl will treat a wedding reception almost like being at a bar. They just want to drink and socialize with good music in the background. I’ve had events I thought were bad bc no one danced, but when it was over ppl were like “you were awesome”
This is so on point. I've done hundreds of weddings and you are out here distilling all of this trial and error into one fact filled video. This is life affirming for me haha. You just ran through so many moments i have lived alone in my head and it's so real. Thank you
All very good tips I would add asking the organiser for a list of request songs from the invites before the event will give you good hints of what the floor fillers will be for that particular event and they may be total different from what the organiser tells you and don mix in the middle of songs when floor is packed
Sometimes I wonder if reading the crowd of the room might be better than just trying to get people to dance. Some elderly people and others at a wedding like to hear music but not dance. Should I not play something for them even tho I know they won't dance. Perhaps it's good to play some for everyone in the room, regardless if they dance or not. I'm probably talking nonsense, but does anyone else ever think like this? Probably just me I know 😂
So funny that this popped up in my feed (not really, you're always in my feed these days - not mad about it!), because my gig last night was just this lol. Sunday wedding. Contracted for 3 1/2 hours of dancing. 80 people. Majority 50+ age. Counted 16 Doctors on seating chart, which was as big of a tell as I thought it was going to be. Most left by 8pm, dancing started around 6:30pm. Thought they were going to call it early (hoping), but we went the distance. Fortunately the group and the client (about 15 people) that wanted to danced were out there for the last hour, but I basically "put my head down and mixed" the entire night. Painful. Didn't help that it was an outdoor venue with beautiful weather and fire pit, corn hole, etc. Your advice is spot on. Listen to this man!
I just did my first solo gig last Saturday. I had this very same issue right off the bat. Ton of light in the gym, older crowd, and it was tough. I'd get them out for a song, and then they'd all go back and sit down. couldn't get into a rhythm, or build sets. My panic led to a point when I had silence because I didn't know what to do next. Found a song and soldiered on. On my client call, the bride mentioned that her biggest fear was that people wouldn't dance. I didn't understand what she meant until I was drowning with a sparse crowd. Just not the dancing types. It got ugly. But I had them by the end of the night, and I hope it's what they'll remember. Looking back on it, now I get it. She had an older crowd that just wasn't party-heavy. Managed to salvage it with dance tunes later, but damn. Talk about panic at the disco. I did get a ton of compliments and the couple and their parents told me it was great. But holy crap did that rattle me. This was an incredibly helpful video! I'll be checking out more of your tips as I don't accept defeat easily and really love this new trade I've found! Thanks for your advice!
Woow, thank you so much for your video. Im been Dj since 10 years and these Dj tips are solid. Thank you for share. Greetings from México, new subscriber.
This is one of the most IMPORTANT videos I've ever made! Please watch it til the END 🙏🏼 It's worth it.
It's really a good video
I have a list that I give to the couple to send to their guests : the name of the list is: I WILL DANCE IF YOU PLAY (works every time).. I even suggest to purchase cheap comfy sandals for the ladies to take their high heels off and get their bootie on the dance floor.
Omgsh i love your vidoes i actually just found you and have been watching some of them! I wish you could do my wedding so bad! it really sounds like you know what your doing!
have you done any mix lesson? i would love to learn from you.
ie, you bounce around so many different tempos, grooves and styles, you could match it with the best. much respect and thank you
ALL U GOTTA DO IS PLAY MY SONG " LET ME CLEAR MY THROAT " AND THAT'LL GET THE PARTY GOING EVERYTIME GUARANTEED 💯😎🤣🎤🎶
A huge lesson learned for me years back was a wedding where I couldn't get a single soul out on the dance floor, for hours! I was shitting my pants the whole time and then at the end of the night the bride and groom came up and gave me a hug and said what a good time they had. That's when I learned not everyone's idea of a successful wedding was the same as mine, some people just wanna crush drinks and talk shit while they listen to some good music!
Exactly! Had this a couple of times aswell with some birthdayparties and they gave the same feedback,. So that really puts things into perspective!
Love this!!
That's a fact, jack!
Nothing confuses me more than the end of a night where I think it was a slower one...and the come up to say it's the best wedding they've ever been to...and I hand out a dozen business cards.
Go with it, but in your head...that WTF is warranted. lol
@@MBrulla I had a wedding where the B&G requested all sorts of Alternative or New Rock and not many favourites. Only they danced, didn't see the parents dance at all. I thought I really shagged things up. At the end of the night, the B&G were happy and I met their parents after and I said, I am sorry that I wasn't able to play more tunes to your liking and they said, this was their night, not ours. For that they thought I did a great job. That was a huge lesson learned for me.
I am a FIRM believer if people are not dancing but are vibing to the music, enjoying the music, you as a Dj have succeeded. I dont care who you are..You cant make people dance..period.
So true, found out, everyone don't dance, they just like to " chairboogie"
Agreed - hell, sometimes I'll shout out to those dancing at their tables or at the bar and throw one out dedicated to them. I don't care where you are, what you're doing...if you're having a good time that's what matters.
@@MBrulla move their table to the middle of the dance floor 💯😊
@@Stewcrew8 I have had more than a few dance on their tables before...and I thoroughly encourage such recklessness.
Had a gig I thought I flopped I played almost all the hits you can think of even asked myself what have i done wrong today. Long story short at the end of the wedding the bride and groom came to me and gave me a generous tip and thanked me they said they had the time of their life and had a good time so my worries were all in my head
I been a DJ since the late 80's, done hundreds of parties, weddings, concerts, sweet 16's etc, etc, i noticed the last few years people are not engaged like they used to be, I blame social media n cell phones, especially at high school reunion gigs, people basically see everybody on facebook n chat, The desire to engage with others has diminished , Between people going outside to smoke, or people on their phones its more difficult then ever to earn their interest, years ago EVERY!!! gig was a wild packed dance floor n great time, now its alot different
Yes , that has been my experience. Excellent comment
🙋🏿♂️ I notice this too...
I’ve had a couple events where the venue is loving my mixing more than the guests hahaha
I always take that as a compliment, cus think of how many DJs, the venue have heard over time.
@@nuwmaas facts! I tell them “you’re the reason I came to DJ tonight.”
Same here. But then again. Their wedding was at 11am-3pm.
One of the pros I shadowed under for a number of weddings turned to me one night as we gazed out onto a truly empty dance floor, at a wedding, was:
"If you're playing songs you've been asked to play, playing them well, and your sixth sense of good music/timing/beat matching is on point, it's not your fault if no one dances. There are some people who honestly never learned to or don't like to dance. That's no one's fault"
Best advice I ever heard other than buy active speakers instead of passive.
Also, remain SOBER as a Dj to be 100% alert and to be able to exercise the things nick talked about! And 1 more suggestion (it works in these types of situations, simply ask "If there are any dancers in the house, I TAKE REQUEST! AND THEY WILL GET THE DANCING STARTED!
If noone is dancing....play suavemente, people will come out of nowhere and start dancing.
every friggin time!
hahhaha facts! I hate that song!!
I mean that beat possesses your hips and it be over 😅😂
It's FIRE 🔥
Facts
"Every wedding is the Super Bowl" great advice brother!
Thanks for the video
Absolutely. As I've always said, it could be your 300th, or 700th, or 1200th wedding, but it's (usually, lol) the couples first, and you therefore still need to treat it like it's the most important event you've ever done.
I've had 2 covid weddings that I was crapping myself because nobody would dance no matter what I played. Both times the couples thanked me up and down and said everyone had a great time and that so many people hadn't seen each other in so long due to covid that they were all visiting and catching up instead of dancing
you can talk to the guests at cocktail hour..ask what they like as well.
Yeah, daylight barn weddings with a lot of smokers...not a lot of dancing.
i've had weddings where they only slow dance, or only dance to participation songs (shuffle, slide, ymca, etc)
And i've had weddings where everyone dances no matter what you play.
I also tell every bride- YOU are the reason everything is there - if you are on the dance floor so will they, if you spend all night in the bar, so will they.
As a DJ of 40+ years, you absolutely nailed in here Nick. I had to figure all this out on my own and it took time. Much respect to you for sharing this DJ wisdom. Mixing dinner music is a valuable gem to get a feel for the crowd to do the initial connect. This is the single best psychology of the art of DJ'ing I've ever seen.
I’m a club DJ transitioning to weddings (yay more money) but STRUGGLE mentally so much with groups that don’t dance. This mindset shift I think will really help. Give it everything you got and you can leave head held high ❤️
I DJ Latin dance events (salsa, bachata) and corporate gigs. These are my observations: (1) flow is key, smooth transitions but with subtle cues to inform the crowd next song is coming up. I also freestyle, and not having fixed sets allows me to adapt quickly. (2) prep, prep prep. Prepping is key [beat gridding, set your cue points etc]. Last thing you want is to be prepping music at the gig! (3) impact. Don't ever be afraid to do massive bpm/energy changes, I find that this works when you build a crescendo( with high energy bangers), then drop the night by bringing out the slow stuff. Timing is key to this so you gotta pick the right moment to do this. (4) have fun. As the DJ, if you are not having fun, the crowd will feel it consciously and subconsciously and are less compelled to dance. (5) Hifi sound files. Personally as a dancer, I value high quality tracks. So I download all my tracks at 24 bit + sampling rate of 96 khz (FLAC) and then use platinum notes to get rid of clipped peaks. I use a Traktor s4 controller and it allows 96 khz sampling, this does make an audible difference, and the percussion feels a lot fuller.
I DJ for 30 years before I stopped, this is wonderful advice. Sometimes I give up and others I just followed the routine I practiced. It’s frustrating but If you rocked 70% of your gigs mostly likely it’s the people. I also experienced situations where only 10 people dance all night but everyone told me they enjoyed the music. Some folks don’t dance much but they enjoy hearing good mixing
As a bride who's worst nightmare is that my lame family will not dance -- this makes me feel a million times better.
I've been a DJ for 25 years, not a SINGLE COUPLE knew what's working. It's not their job. I always waited till some promil... play 2 killers, take it from there and never had an empty floor the rest of the night... just playing my own shit. "Never thought they liked this" blablabla... Style doesn't matter, just play with the energy. Good sound is key.
First Off, You have Songs In The Key Of Life Hanging On The Top Shelf! My Mans for life
Good video Nick! Your next one should be “what to do when you have a packed dance floor but the bride & groom never come out to dance? This happened to me 4-5 years ago. Had a packed dance floor pretty much the whole night with the guests but my bride & groom never danced. At the end of the night, they were very quiet when I thanked them for hiring me for there wedding and congratulated them. The next day, they sent me an email saying that they were disappointed and that there wedding was ruined. So from that wedding on….communication is HUGE for me and ALWAYS ask your bride & groom for a do not play list!!! No exceptions!
DJed private events and weddings for 10 years. This is hands down the best advice I’ve ever heard. I burnt out after not having control over contact with the bride and groom after years of not being able to prepare properly and going into every gig blind. Take Nick’s advice as gospel if you don’t want to burn out like me.
Wow bro. I ain't a DJ but really enjoyed this.
Wow! You hit the nail on the head. All the DJs I speak to never admit that they may have a slow crowd. They say they that they Always rock it all the time. And I know they're full of s***. I respect your honesty. Everything your saying is very true. Especially the part about not giving up and putting your head down and mixing. And getting out on the floor with the mic trying to motivate the people and using the bride and groom's name. All these techniques I do as well. And like you said you will get crowds like Doctor Residency.Or a early wedding. A religious wedding. A wedding with no alcohol. Certain corporate events.. you have to also consider all crowds drink different. Meaning they might take longer to get intoxicated or more fired up. Sometimes you're doing everything properly they're just not fired up yet or intoxicated enough. This is one of the reasons why weddings are formatted. Cocktail hour and dinner hour. All these things build you to the point where the Dancefloor finally gets going .You can't push it early if there not ready.. I've done some weddings where they didn't rock until the last hour. And that played to my advantage because they were now drunk and they now wanted me to do overtime and not stop.
It is so cool and important that you bring up this topic. I've been DJing at weddings for 30 years. At every preliminary meeting with the bridal couple, I draw their attention to one fact: the dance floor may be empty at times. And any DJ who guarantees his is always packed...is lying. As a club (resident) DJ you know your audience and can concentrate on your mix skills. As a Wedding DJ, you need to read the dance floor. And that's a skill you can't just learn. That is a matter of experience. But you're right about all of your advice. These reduce the chance of this happening to you. One of the most important videos I've seen from you so far. RESPECT
I had a wedding where a trainee was with me and the dance floor was packed until the groom came up and asked us to play really hard-core rap music. I'm talking back yard cook out weed smoking rap music. It killed the floor which sucked, but at the end of the night the groom handed us a $200 tip and I knew he and the bride were happy.
at one point when i was doing a birthday party, i saw an empty dance floor and panicked, but the parents (it was a 4 yo party) loved my djing and gave me a fat check lol
I had a couple flat out tell me they aren’t dancers. I had one person on the dance floor the entire evening, so I entertained that one person and had nothing but compliments from the bride and groom!
Nick talks a lot about “freakin’ and stressing’ out” during weddings! The best thing that I found to fix this problem…stop doing weddings! Every 4-5 hour wedding is 12 hours of work and it comes with high stress and liability. When doing a wedding, you need to cater to the wants and demands of the couple getting married. When doing any other type of function, I get to control the show! I’m no longer willing to give up an entire Saturday anymore! After 24 years, I put the weddings away! For those of you who love doing weddings, this is a great video!
I've had so many people ask. "Why you mixing at dinner just relax." I'm like nah!! You made a valid point man
im just glad that i came up under vets that instilled that a microphone is a dj's best friend when your not scared
So true. When the room clears out and you can’t figure out why check the hallway for a brawl!
9:03 it's called "rubbernecking" lol great video! great energy and editing and information. I play in a live band but a lot of your points cross over and relate big time, watched the whole video
ive had some tough crowds but never no one dancing, theres always some tricks you learn along the way to get people up
Hey Nick , awesome video . Not a wedding but a surprise 40th. No one danced. The wife who hired me came up to me after and apologized , sorry my friends are boring 😂😂😂.
Can you do a video breaking down wedding packages and what to charge and also dabble into what to ask a club to pay you? Got my first gig at a small club paying $60 per hour. Next move for me is probably weddings. Appreciate all your videos bro!
This guy really goes on and on and on...
This advice is insanely valuable. Great video. Listen up any new Djs.
I've djd over 40 years. I will play a slow song. Works everytime
Great video! A big lesson I've learned is that sometimes what the couple requests, the guests hate and don't dance to. Once I had guests ask me why I was playing this music, and it was because it's what the couple asked for. At that point you have to do what it takes to get people to dance, couple requests have to be sandwiched in sparingly. The environment is huge..day time, lights on, no spirits...that all makes a difference. LOL! 7:50 is so true! I ALWAYS bring a sub no matter what I'm being paid. Many times if the dance floor is empty, it's time for a slow song. Counter intuitive, but often works. You can often judge the crowd from the first song. If they run out on the first song...will probably be easy. It's also amazing what turning the lights down will do. Speed mixing is also helpful until you find something they like. South Georgia, summertime, heat, humidity, mosquitoes...that's tough.
Great video! I remember many times thinking that the night was bombing because I wasn't playing the right music. After the gig, the bride and groom thanking me for a fantastic job!
the ability to adapt is so important!
Scene. #1 most important part of this. Year #2 most important is what year you're in. If you're in 2023, play stuff from 2000-2023. I know it seems restrictive, but most of the time 2000's dance hits is a big positive reaction. Most of the people 21-40 years of age, will be able to relate to them and sing them.
You gotta be able to relate to the environment. DJing for clubs or venues is not about the DJ, it's about the crowd. Period.
First class advice .👌
Great video, I have been spinning for a long time, one of the things i learned throughout time was to ask for the Maid of Honor's and Best Man's name.. I automatically let them know they were the go to person, the liaison between us, no one else.
And in such instances i would call them up to the dj booth and tell them to push the crowd to drag the court onto the dancefloor and proceed to bring out the guest, it helps.. Even sometimes they would just grab the couple on their own or the couple would walk into the dancefloor...
:), Good advice in a fun way. Reset and try again. I will say I tend to do the island idea, the First dance island into a big dance set (with a heap of guilt), sets the tone for the night, then after dinner the interactive island that get's them out and then 30 minutes to the F/D & M/S dance island, which get's me to get everyone to join them and we are off and swimming/dancing to the next island (cake/montage/more toasts). Never quit and never say die, mix your ass off and don't let your dancers drown.
TWO TOPS ARE NOT ENOUGH - Amen Nick :)
This happened to me and I was like, WTF!? I could not figure out why no one was dancing. I was mixing their requests, popular dance songs, the classics and still, not a single person was dancing. I felt like an idiot and frustrated. Near the end of the night, after my heart rate went through the roof, people were shaking my hand, good job, great music and the wedding couple were happy and hugged me and of course I played it off, lol... I guess some weddings are about meet and greet and some are about celebrating and drinking. Good video Nick... Been DJing for thirty years and every blue moon I get a no dancing group. Grrrr...
THATS WHY I LOVE OPEN BAR PARTYS IN GENERAL
I have my first wedding coming up in August. As an older DJ getting started, I am glad you have listed all the songs that I have in some of my playlists to get prepped.
I've been performing live acoustic weddings and parties for 10 years, and just recently, after flexing as a tech house prog DJ at festivals, I thought, hey, why don't I book some DJ party gigs. Books filling up, super stoked. So happy to hear everything you're saying, and actually know the songs your speaking of because I was worried about not having the library. But I got this! Two birthdays next weekend, come at me! 👌
Great info brother 👍
This was advanced level theory right here 😆
Best Advice I always give is throw your bangers early most guest leave after a few hours after the dinner. Texas is land of the line dances
djRetroR... South Africa... My tip is, I ask my client for at least 10 songs I must play. So when I do play their song, I give a shout out. Always get a reaction. Also at most of these private parties, +-2 hours of dance time. So I always keep a solid dance list.
I learned the hard way that sometimes people especially at weddings want to spend most of their time catching with family members and friends they haven't seen for a long time while drinking and listing to good music. When I saw there was no one on the dance floor no matter what music I played I started to frustrated. As the night went on little by little the dance floor started to fill up. The lesson learned for me is patience.
Its called "Rubber necking", You are an amazing person/ DJ and I've never heard you play a note. Being a great people person helps you adapt in the moment when shit starts going haywire. Being a DJ for weddings is almost tertiary to all the other shit you have to deal with during the whole day! You have it DOWN!! Subbed forever!
Really liked this video, I had a Wedding and hardly no one danced, was a boring wedding, and very stressful. I tried changing things up playing things that I always get people out on the floor. At end of the wedding I went up to the bride and groom, to apologize for guest not dancing. They then told me it wasn't my fault, they were very religious and don't dance. What?!! - I would have liked to known that beforehand. So your comment about getting background info is critical. Vey good video!! Thank you. Maxdb, Ky
This was fantastic advice. I definitely FEEL panicked when I cant get the dancefloor going. Luckily, my instinct always was to put my head down and keep mixing without seeming too desperate.
Late to the party here. I had a college graduation (mexican). I had this scenario happen. I did exactly what you said on this video. I played banger after banger after banger. No one dance. It was a Friday night. 2 hours into my set still no dancing. I made way for the live band. They couldn't get anyone dancing. I started to dance cause I knew how it felt. Anyway, once the band finished up I closed the night and yes I finally got dancers. I asked the guy who hired me and he said I did an amazing job. Right my eyebrow raised higher than the Rock's lol. He said thats how his family is. They all enjoyed it. It does happen but as long as they are boppin their heads thats as good as dancing I guess.
Why not try a line dance or a slow dane? If no one is dancing you got to go to the proven methods cause i rarely play slow songs or line dances but if the bangers aren't working maybe they aren't ready.
Alcohol can make a difference, a dry wedding sometimes is meh
Nice video. A lot of truth. Most important thing is talk to couples.
My favorite, and I mean "Favorite" thing to do in this world is to find an empty dance floor and hit the 4x4 on the floor till that dance floor comes alive... seriously my favorite thing to do!
I am not a dancer but I enjoy a lot of music. a lot of times ill just lay back drink and sing along to the music
Great stuff bro!! - BUT here's my top tip.. if you meet with the couple early enough before they send out their invitations - kindly ask their guests who respond to write their top 3 songs on the back of the invitation. Ive had couples do this a few times and during our first meeting i knew what the whole fucking guests list listened to! Lets just say those are the weddings that i completely fucking grand slammed outta the statium - with couples stumbling at the end of the night from drinking to much thanking me and basically calling me a god! haha! have fun and again good stuff!
I have djed parties and the family were not dancers they just enjoyed the music😌😎
The worst... I had one like that where it turned out that not only did they love what I was doing, but even gave me one of my biggest tips and more bookings. Sometimes you never know. But no matter how long we've been doing this. Or how many awesome gigs we have. If they ain't, dancing we're freaking out on our heads. I just keep mixing and smiling while I'm cursing myself in my head. Lol. Awesome video.
Well said Nick!
You are hilarious,😂 the wheel of fortune I almost pissed myself…😂😂😂😂 great video Truck driver from Southern California.
That drama tip is REAL.
The two moms of the B&G got into it, drinks thrown, everyone...EVERYONE goes outside and watches them fight in the street. Wildest thing ever. Sat at the bar with the coordinator, had a shot of bourbon, saw people coming in and rocked the rest of the night.
That first banger that cleared the floor? My GOD - been there. Just what comes with the territory. The night ain't over until it's over. KEEP IT GOING NO MATTER WHAT.
Can't Help Falling in Love - 5 couples. Wedding of 200 people.
Timber - the NUMBER ONE request from the couple. No one.
Shit. Well, keep throwing some stuff out. Mix genres, jump from here to there...and eventually, notice the dude at the bar who has a Pantera patch on his wallet and throw on Walk...and watch the floor PACK.
No matter what - you keep going. NO MATTER WHAT.
You hit the nail on the head with this video! I've been DJ'ing since '92 and I've had a couple of those "empty" dance floors, but always did my best.
Gold, dude. - I hope your followers appreciate everything you give them!
Thanks so much Tony 🙏🏼🙏🏼
I make a point always to speak to a grand parent and get a request and if they are just sitting ill use it as the group will always follow.
And don't be Playlist wedding dj that will always catch you. So many wedding djs play same songs in the same order maybe change or ad a new song or 2. And forget 80% of the time they had been at the same event the bride and groom heard you. Or the dj does not understand how to read a room thats like u mentioned the job and never seeing somone do it well and explain why they are doing things like watching groups or outgoing people move around the room. People always follow leaders or the cool kids. Great points
Great video I am going to use the mic next time I play a slow song
Luv that tip !
Yessss it'll make a huge difference do it brotha!
Did my first wedding this past Friday 8/6/21. Played some good low key warm up dance songs, that got kids out on the floor....then went stagnant and then broke loose when I played hokey pokey, chicken dance, and macarainna ...🙄 ..but lesson learned trust em when they say hokey pokey and chicken dance....
@ 9:04 - Rubbernecking...
Baited into watching this because even as a 20+ year wedding DJ it's always good to see how other DJs deal with the dreaded empty dance floor.
So so much of this video I do physically or mentally already. There's a few tweaks I'll make to how I deal with ebb and flows of the dance floor but preparation is better than cure. I am still amazed how many of my fellow peers (DJs) don't meet thier couples before the wedding. Weddings are more diverse crowds but its easier than say a birthday party when you have done the prep. You know the genres the couple like, thier family like, you defined limits on how far you can take genres and importantly set expectations early.
This is particularly crucial when a couple want specific music playing all night for some crowds that can work, but Weddings are diverse so you have to think about everyone and again manage expectations... are the couple willing to let you deviate on the music if the crowd isn't game for the music the couple want.
Playlists, We are DJs, not ipods. I welcome playlists and they are a valuable insight to the couples music tastes... and I will try to play what I can from the list. The bangers definitely and if a genre works, keep it going with more from thier listin tnat genre., it's when i feel (from experience) the time is right.
Show them photos, videos from previous weddings. Chances are if you are active on social media, the couple have already seen what it can be like but I still meet couples that have never been to a wedding before, they have no concept of the timeline, the music you typically find at a wedding and that they can have a huge influence on that music. Build that report with your couple before the wedding.
Preparation is everything.
this guy is VALID
This was one of my favorite videos you have done. Spot on, While you were talking about the anxiety of no one dancing ,I'm sitting here shaking my head saying YES!! I've felt that pain before, but you are exactly right, put your head down and mix. I usually walk away from those wedding thinking I suck and after 30 + years of doing this, I should hang up my headphones but then you have a couple of people come up to you and ask for your business card. I've actually booked more wedding from the wedding I thought I sucked at than a wedding I thought I was killing it. go figure. Great video, keep them coming!
same here man, 7 years doing weddings here and I remember 2 or 3 really chilled weddings where I struggled to make them dance because they weren't party people and everyone was having their cocktail literally outside and talking, and people came to say thanks and to congratulate me for the music...
Wazzup Nick! Great video! I’ve seen you at the DJ Expo. My husband and I DJ all kinds of parties and clubs, sometimes you have to think outside the box, sometimes a rock remix like AC/DC Shook Me All Night Long, or La Mamamama 😂 if that don’t work, Cupid shuffle, maybe you just might have to say all the ladies on the dance floor, then if that don’t work, you might have to play a game, like first 10 people on the dance floor will win a free CD of Nick’s best remixes, believe me that will work, people love anything free, I’m sure that will loosen them up and then you will own them🤣😂🤣💜🙏💜
Facts only !
Not everyone can do alt this things, but everyone will find a few very good advices :)
Thank you for that !
Also, SETLIST!!! I don't care what you do or where you spin, at the very least, a partial setlist is a must. Not doing a setlist you have practised is like playing as a live band and not knowing what you're going to play. I think this is mistake number one. Obviously when you have lots of experience, you can do less prep in this regard, but know what you're doing before you're doing.
I don't care whether you're Laid Back Luke or a newbie, successful DJ's have prepared setlists.
been watching your channel for awhile and i gotta say you definitely have the best information on youtube regarding the psychology behind DJing. appreciate all the info!
Excellent video. Bottom line is.. People will see your effort. Show em what you got!
I'm a Jamaican i love's when you said bring your sub 💯
A lot of times ppl will treat a wedding reception almost like being at a bar. They just want to drink and socialize with good music in the background. I’ve had events I thought were bad bc no one danced, but when it was over ppl were like “you were awesome”
tried and true.....return of the mack
Great tips Nick, been through all of these issues and its nice to get a fresh perspective. Props from the west coast!
This is so on point. I've done hundreds of weddings and you are out here distilling all of this trial and error into one fact filled video. This is life affirming for me haha. You just ran through so many moments i have lived alone in my head and it's so real. Thank you
All very good tips I would add asking the organiser for a list of request songs from the invites before the event will give you good hints of what the floor fillers will be for that particular event and they may be total different from what the organiser tells you and don mix in the middle of songs when floor is packed
Sometimes I wonder if reading the crowd of the room might be better than just trying to get people to dance.
Some elderly people and others at a wedding like to hear music but not dance. Should I not play something for them even tho I know they won't dance. Perhaps it's good to play some for everyone in the room, regardless if they dance or not. I'm probably talking nonsense, but does anyone else ever think like this? Probably just me I know 😂
I think that your statement sound very reasonable 😊
Hi Nick , you are so right - this is to what every Pro DJ should listen to!
Exellent video. Hard crowds are hard crowds 😂
So funny that this popped up in my feed (not really, you're always in my feed these days - not mad about it!), because my gig last night was just this lol. Sunday wedding. Contracted for 3 1/2 hours of dancing. 80 people. Majority 50+ age. Counted 16 Doctors on seating chart, which was as big of a tell as I thought it was going to be. Most left by 8pm, dancing started around 6:30pm. Thought they were going to call it early (hoping), but we went the distance. Fortunately the group and the client (about 15 people) that wanted to danced were out there for the last hour, but I basically "put my head down and mixed" the entire night. Painful. Didn't help that it was an outdoor venue with beautiful weather and fire pit, corn hole, etc.
Your advice is spot on. Listen to this man!
I just did my first solo gig last Saturday. I had this very same issue right off the bat. Ton of light in the gym, older crowd, and it was tough. I'd get them out for a song, and then they'd all go back and sit down. couldn't get into a rhythm, or build sets. My panic led to a point when I had silence because I didn't know what to do next. Found a song and soldiered on. On my client call, the bride mentioned that her biggest fear was that people wouldn't dance. I didn't understand what she meant until I was drowning with a sparse crowd. Just not the dancing types. It got ugly. But I had them by the end of the night, and I hope it's what they'll remember. Looking back on it, now I get it. She had an older crowd that just wasn't party-heavy. Managed to salvage it with dance tunes later, but damn. Talk about panic at the disco. I did get a ton of compliments and the couple and their parents told me it was great. But holy crap did that rattle me. This was an incredibly helpful video! I'll be checking out more of your tips as I don't accept defeat easily and really love this new trade I've found! Thanks for your advice!
I just love hearing Angel Of Death By Slayer while eating dinner at a wedding.....
😂😂😂
Line dances at the right times are key
This video gave me anxiety 😦 i feel much better that I’m not alone 😊
Woow, thank you so much for your video. Im been Dj since 10 years and these Dj tips are solid.
Thank you for share.
Greetings from México, new subscriber.
Wow love these tips bro your so right on the prep part I didn’t think bout that thanks nick
Man, you really dove deep into the psychological mind gymnastics that we go through. I feel like I owe money you for a session. 💪
Haha appreciate you watching Timmy!!!
He actually has a workshop with Digital Dave soon if you want to pay for a session 😉
Banger!!!!