Advice: big bro to DJ little bro

W0LFMAN

How’s to going people,

I've got myself into a small Jam and could do with some quick sound advice..Ill keep it small and to the point to keep interest up.

Here's the build-up.

1. My younger brother age 16, (A year ago was a tear away late nights, moody and very awkward to deal with always away from home), I took him on holiday to Ibiza and he had a serious life changing experience. He fell in love with the whole dj music life.

2. I used that experiance he likes to change his life's bad habits, Bought him nice Decks few records to get started and inspired him with ideas to change his ways.

3. Within a year, he's stopped all the foolishness, landed two jobs to support his record buying habit, (Practice's weekday 3-4 hours a DAY 6+ at weekend) and does nothing but talk, talk, talk about DJ’ing...getting on well with family and now in great communication with all of the family especially Mum, his mixing is good and his taste too (but I’m his big brother).

Here's the peak.

4. Being a very noticeable personality, especially the fact he has not got a solitary embarrassing bone in his body, (I mean this guy has no humiliation, forever brave). He's not afraid to go for what he wants, even if the idea is stupid.

5. He’s been sneaking into clubs which is effortless as he's about 6 foot 4. , but I'm not talking some backyard clubs here, some serious 100,200 people clubs.. He befriends the dj's and observe them do their craze... this is how he's learning fresh material.

6. He's now on the phone talking to these people about arranging his Demo-cd playlists, he has a few club owners asking for them and he's hit a milestone. (Amazing what has changed in a year)

Question:...
He's turned around and asked me what he should burn onto disk (It’s not the playlist that’s the problem, It’s his meaning and message he wants to put across to people)....I don't know if he thinks I have answers.... he wants to impress people, but come across stable/sensible and strong..I know he's young, but he's in an adult world here.
I don't want his bubble to pop, as I think this could serious drag him down worse than before. It’s not the Tunes that’s the problem... he can think of 100's.... me too; it’s his direction I think he’s asking himself.

I'm not too well up on this subject so threw it out, but I am his bro and will try and find the best advice...

Should he be brave and burn HIS Favorites try and be something different or Burn popular hits that’s well heard.
I think he wants to aim for some serious gigging…
Any advice is always welcome...
Regards
Wolf

PeakOutput

if his favourites are something different then ye thats what he should do.

if they are the same dj sammy or hard house raver crap most 16 yr old djs are into then unless he has some SERIOUS mixing ability he is not going to stand out much.

up front tunes smooth mixing should do the trick. hes going to be looking for at best low paid support slots(im assuming its a genre of dance he wants to spin and not the cheesy club crap) for small time promoters so they want him to have a small local following(10/15 mates that big him up on his bebo or something) so they have an extra few people at the gig and they want him to be able t not make the night **** before the next warmup act comes on.

he needs to appear to be solid and reliable and if he can do that he should get his foot in the door and then he can start impressing people(not right away settle in first) by having the crowd pumping early in the night (it is imperative you leave them with enough energy for the main act tho)

/dj waffle off

W0LFMAN

He’s not into that Rave stuff, Heavy Hardcore, fast drum and bass...

More like Deep House, Vocal Trance mellow beats.

youtube these....

Kerri Chandler - Oblivion
marshall jefferson mushrooms & transetters roaches
Evil Nine - Snack Bar Lounge (feat. JFB)
Hired Goons - Evil Nine - ComixRadio 02-6

He’s got his mate’s… but there not likely to get into the club…. He’s submitting his first Demo disk today for a club… will write a post when I Find out more…He’s in England and I’m in Ireland… hard to catch him sometimes…

regards

wolf

Bren_M.Records

Honestly, if hes thinking that he really really wants to do this thing for keeps he should start as he means to continue and go with what he loves as apposed to what he thinks other people think he should be playing.
If hes good (and from what your saying he sounds far more clued in to how things work at 16 than I am now and Im 36) then his instincts will steer him towards whats funky while at the same time being accessible to the market hes aiming for.
Its a fact of all careers that you sometimes make mistakes and people sometimes say no and I know hes your big/wee brother but the music industry is what it is and rejection at times goes with the territory.
The plus side of that is if (and it is an if) he was to get rejected at some stage and he comes through it and carries on he will be the better for the experience.
Im ramblin now so I'll shut up but I wish him luck and hope he lands a couple of slots.

deevey

He’s in England and I’m in Ireland

Is he living there ?? ... he probably stands a better chance of getting gigs

I wish him all the best .. sounds like he's got his head screwed on and his club mates are pointing him in the direction of some nice, intelligent music, perfect stuff for support of many a superstar

Rejection happens more times than not an unfortunate side to the business ... and unlike (unfortunately) with other elements of the music business .. clubs and promoters can shut down shop overnight, I really don't know any jock that hasn't been .
financially or emotionally scarred by trying to be the next "big thing" and coming to the realization that a warm up for a big name in this country is as far they could go.....(and its not like we really have many big dance clubs anymore like way back when....)

I hope he is prepared for many a knock .. alhough at 6'4 .. he probably is

As regards playlists ... hmm .. personally I hate the very idea of them .. but in saying that .. If needed I would structure a playlist as I would playing out a set start to finish, if looking for support gigs then a early night set obviously, as in no really "big tunes" that the main jock would play, but similar sounds.

If people are already interested in him thats half the battle though.

it is imperative you leave them with enough energy for the main act tho

and enough energy to get plenty of drinks into em at the bar before the main act .. remember who is paying your wages !! ...

DarkJager

Maybe instead of trying to hammer in too many popular or big tunes into his mix, he should try to convey a "story in sound" so to speak. In my opinion, the best mixes and sets you can play are the ones that move at a good pace and keep enough variety in the styles of tracks to make it interesting.

I'd personally start with softer tracks, slowly building my way up to an absolute stomper of a tune, then leveling back for 1 or 2 more songs and finishing up with a dancefloor burner. The listener/crowd are going to need a few minutes to breathe, so its not a good idea to make a mix of one hard track after another...

Best of luck to him.