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The Top10
Ways to Better DJ Music Programming
by Wyatt Magnum, CMS & Magnum
Music Group.
Whether
you’re a veteran DJ or new to the profession, these tips will help
improve performance in the booth. They are:
1.
Ensure a
written job description exists for the DJ position. Understand
exactly what the expectations are for your job. Nightly, weekly and
monthly duties should be outlined. This will help eliminate many
DJ/management conflicts now and in the future.
2.
Make sure your music format is in writing. Simply outline
exactly what types of music styles are to be played with
specific song examples. The format should also list how many
70s, 80s, 90s and current music selections should be played each
hour.
3.
Keep a nightly playlist to document what you are playing.
Write down what you play every night to not only keep your show
sounding fresh but to also refer back to. Create a file for
these and provide a copy to management at the end of each shift.
Many computer-based MP3 players keep these logs automatically
for printing at the end of the shift.
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4.
To avoid music repetition, use the “pick five” technique.
Simply pick five songs from your library you haven’t played
in at least three months (or possibly ever) and play them
that night. You won’t believe the impact implementing this
technique will have on your program and performance.
5.
Update your library at least monthly. Use a monthly
budget of anywhere between $150-250.
6.
Meet
with management at least monthly to review your performance,
discuss upcoming promotions at the club and to keep the
lines of communication open between you and management.
7.
Get
out of the booth at least once a night and walk the room
to get a better feel for whom exactly is in the club & to
check volume levels.
8.
Use
the microphone! Communicate with the audience at least
twice an hour to announce drink or promotional specials,
birthdays and to engage the crowd in audience participation.
Keep the length of each voice-over to no less than 20 but no
more than 30 seconds. |
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9.
Don’t be
afraid to take requests. Keep a list near the booth for
customers to write down what they would like to hear. Place a
statement at the bottom of the form that reads “one request per
customer please.” Politely inform guests that if you have the song
you will play it “within the hour.”
10.
Do your homework. Keep up to date with new music releases
and entertainment trends. Subscribe to key industry
publications, surf the Web, network with other DJs and stay
informed.
EDITOR'S NOTE:
Wyatt Magnum
is one of our industry's most respected DJ/music authorities. He
is president of CMS and
Magnum
Music Group.com,
providing on-premise music consultation services. He can be
reached at (800) 266-4700. This article appeared in
Nightclub & Bar Magazine.
Source:
The 4-Part Manager's Survival Guide,
"Bar/Nightclub Management & Marketing" , a
powerful tool for
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