First let me say that I love what your doing, music choice, persona, your look, everything ❤️. Second, I’m a young 60 years old and started DJing in my 20’s. I gave it up to raise a family, did not want to be away from them on the weekends. Now that their on their own, I’m looking to get back into it. But getting back to your question I once had a guy come up to me and started pounding on my amp. While I was mixing vinyl at that time. It was not good, music skipping... it’s a good thing I had my brother with me at the time, he immediately grabbed the guys arms and escorted him away. Those were different times. Needless to say the guy never came back 😎 Moral of the story,, always bring muscle with you 👍🏼. I really enjoyed your video Rachael, Keep up the good work.. 🎤🎼🌹🕺💃🏻
Great advice. My problem isn't drunk guests but people who just want to hang around me while I am busy DJ'ing. It's obvious that I am busy and at times, I am bumping into people because they are in my workspace. Could you make a video on how to deal with unwanted "hanger outers" around the DJ booth. I am very direct when telling people that they are in my way. Unfortunately, sometimes people don't get it the idea. What do you suggest?
I think something else that is key is being in control of your space. Whenever my djs are out at a bar (usually weddings we don't have problems), I tell them: your table is YOUR table. Nobody at the bar gets to put their drinks on it, charge their phone on your outlet, period. I also encourage them to be insistent upon the manner of how guests talk to the DJ - in my case, I make them come to the front of my table or facade and uncomfortably shout their requests over the table while standing next to a blaring speaker. This ensures that they won't stand there very long, and it literally places distance between us. DJR has three female DJs, and we believe that bars are very dangerous places, and I try to give them all the tools they need to be successful without worrying that they'll be victimized in any way by some random drunk stranger in a hostile environment. I tell them, don't even talk to somebody until they come up to you in the front of the table. I also do not allow people to stand over my shoulder and peer into my computer. I actually believe that a drunk guy standing over my girl DJs (or my guys, for that matter) while they work, staring intently at every key they press on their computer is a form of harassment or abuse. On the flipside, I have found that when I'm spinning at a bar and the girls want to make requests, I get hit on. They'll straight grab my waist, blow kisses, "accidentally" bump me with their bodies -- and I would argue that's just as dangerous, because a male DJ (I weigh 210 and stand 6'2") towering over a 5'4" girl at a bar in the corner is always a bad situation, especially if she's making advances. Something I've found works wonders is using the microphone extensively because you want the entire bar to stare at her while SHE clearly comes on to YOU. I will place a goPro and a little sign that says "GoPRO" in front of my computer facing me, too. I make sure they know it is there (Even if it's turned off and not recording), just as a deterrent. Sometimes, if I feel like she might try something, I put BOTH hands onto the controller and pretend like I"m spinning something. We also can use our headphones and turn our backs so that we "accidentally" miss the interaction as a whole. Finally, Whenever I DJ a bar, I ALWAYS wear a hat. I know that If I have a hat on, pulled down over my face, headphones on, staring at my computer, I come off as very closed off, which is a subtle way to avoid interactions without coming off as rude or dismissive. If I need to change my persona, I can always take the hat off and pull down my headphones, smile and wave and be cheerful. But my hat , table, and headphones are all there to protect myself and my professionalism.
I was hoping to find out some good pointers on this! Back in the 1980s and early 1990s, I had a friend (3rd degree black belt) front run the crowd and transfer requests. I sure miss those days! . My first DJ after some 15 years dormant, I got hit up at a Christmas party by two drunks... one on each side. One was asking to hear a song I didn't have (and getting really angry I didn't), and the other kept asking questions about the setup and touching stuff. I ignored them the best I could while trying to do the DJ, two co-employees pulled them away, and I spent the next song discovering the controller changes that had been made for me.
AudioMaverick.com I agree listen djs now depend on there computer to get them through. If that does the whole show dies. Friggen horrible. Back in the day. Nothing ever happened like that. I mean no matter what you do if your computer crashes so does the party. This vid NY yhe way sucks. Idk what barbecues shes talking about wtf. And I spinner better lit. I did clubs though not bar excuses I'm out
Was just revisiting this issue the other day at a gig, great advice for next time, thank you.
First let me say that I love what your doing, music choice, persona, your look, everything ❤️.
Second, I’m a young 60 years old and started DJing in my 20’s. I gave it up to raise a family, did not want to be away from them on the weekends. Now that their on their own, I’m looking to get back into it.
But getting back to your question I once had a guy come up to me and started pounding on my amp. While I was mixing vinyl at that time. It was not good, music skipping... it’s a good thing I had my brother with me at the time, he immediately grabbed the guys arms and escorted him away. Those were different times. Needless to say the guy never came back 😎
Moral of the story,, always bring muscle with you 👍🏼. I really enjoyed your video Rachael, Keep up the good work.. 🎤🎼🌹🕺💃🏻
Reminds me of the scene in The Wedding Singer with a drunk Steve Buscemi.
Great advice. My problem isn't drunk guests but people who just want to hang around me while I am busy DJ'ing. It's obvious that I am busy and at times, I am bumping into people because they are in my workspace. Could you make a video on how to deal with unwanted "hanger outers" around the DJ booth. I am very direct when telling people that they are in my way. Unfortunately, sometimes people don't get it the idea. What do you suggest?
I think something else that is key is being in control of your space. Whenever my djs are out at a bar (usually weddings we don't have problems), I tell them: your table is YOUR table. Nobody at the bar gets to put their drinks on it, charge their phone on your outlet, period. I also encourage them to be insistent upon the manner of how guests talk to the DJ - in my case, I make them come to the front of my table or facade and uncomfortably shout their requests over the table while standing next to a blaring speaker. This ensures that they won't stand there very long, and it literally places distance between us. DJR has three female DJs, and we believe that bars are very dangerous places, and I try to give them all the tools they need to be successful without worrying that they'll be victimized in any way by some random drunk stranger in a hostile environment. I tell them, don't even talk to somebody until they come up to you in the front of the table. I also do not allow people to stand over my shoulder and peer into my computer. I actually believe that a drunk guy standing over my girl DJs (or my guys, for that matter) while they work, staring intently at every key they press on their computer is a form of harassment or abuse. On the flipside, I have found that when I'm spinning at a bar and the girls want to make requests, I get hit on. They'll straight grab my waist, blow kisses, "accidentally" bump me with their bodies -- and I would argue that's just as dangerous, because a male DJ (I weigh 210 and stand 6'2") towering over a 5'4" girl at a bar in the corner is always a bad situation, especially if she's making advances. Something I've found works wonders is using the microphone extensively because you want the entire bar to stare at her while SHE clearly comes on to YOU. I will place a goPro and a little sign that says "GoPRO" in front of my computer facing me, too. I make sure they know it is there (Even if it's turned off and not recording), just as a deterrent. Sometimes, if I feel like she might try something, I put BOTH hands onto the controller and pretend like I"m spinning something. We also can use our headphones and turn our backs so that we "accidentally" miss the interaction as a whole. Finally, Whenever I DJ a bar, I ALWAYS wear a hat. I know that If I have a hat on, pulled down over my face, headphones on, staring at my computer, I come off as very closed off, which is a subtle way to avoid interactions without coming off as rude or dismissive. If I need to change my persona, I can always take the hat off and pull down my headphones, smile and wave and be cheerful. But my hat , table, and headphones are all there to protect myself and my professionalism.
I was hoping to find out some good pointers on this! Back in the 1980s and early 1990s, I had a friend (3rd degree black belt) front run the crowd and transfer requests. I sure miss those days!
. My first DJ after some 15 years dormant, I got hit up at a Christmas party by two drunks... one on each side. One was asking to hear a song I didn't have (and getting really angry I didn't), and the other kept asking questions about the setup and touching stuff. I ignored them the best I could while trying to do the DJ, two co-employees pulled them away, and I spent the next song discovering the controller changes that had been made for me.
AudioMaverick.com I agree listen djs now depend on there computer to get them through. If that does the whole show dies. Friggen horrible. Back in the day. Nothing ever happened like that. I mean no matter what you do if your computer crashes so does the party. This vid NY yhe way sucks. Idk what barbecues shes talking about wtf. And I spinner better lit. I did clubs though not bar excuses I'm out