Hey guys i dont know if i am in the right forum for this question or not but here goes anyway. I have been contacted to do a prom and I dont have the music for it , mainly because i haven't ever done one before but am willing to learn all i can before i get the call back and talk with the people over it. My question is this , what type of songs are the kids listening to ? i know its mainly rap but what artist are the ones that will get them out on the floor and stay there, i want to keep them on the floor as much as i can. so what songs and artist are they into these days. If you have a list it will be greatly appreciated and if they have a clean version of the song will be a plus as well.
DJ'ing a prom?
- Thread starter Jimmy Hardin
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Re: DJ'ing a prom?
Billboard Hot 100 would be a start, but honestly I don't see how this could end well.
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Billboard Hot 100 would be a start, but honestly I don't see how this could end well.
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Re: DJ'ing a prom?
I know what you mean , for one i dont know what they want yet but on the plus side if they call in enough time i can get it for them.
I know what you mean , for one i dont know what they want yet but on the plus side if they call in enough time i can get it for them.
Re: DJ'ing a prom?
Are you planning on making a career of DJ'ing? Do they have a real budget? If you answered No, and Yes to these two questions respectively, do what I'm doing for a local prom; Provide a high quality PA and Light rig and just subhire a decent DJ to bring his laptop, music, and controller. You're opening up a world of pain and suffering trying to just wing it yourself.
Are you planning on making a career of DJ'ing? Do they have a real budget? If you answered No, and Yes to these two questions respectively, do what I'm doing for a local prom; Provide a high quality PA and Light rig and just subhire a decent DJ to bring his laptop, music, and controller. You're opening up a world of pain and suffering trying to just wing it yourself.
Re: DJ'ing a prom?
I dont know the budget yet. They may not can afford me. this is just a possible one time thing, no career at it. I can get the songs i just dont know what they are listening to as of late and i dont have them yet I just didnt know what they are listening to.
I dont know the budget yet. They may not can afford me. this is just a possible one time thing, no career at it. I can get the songs i just dont know what they are listening to as of late and i dont have them yet I just didnt know what they are listening to.
Re: DJ'ing a prom?
12-18 songs an hour, multiplied by even 5 hours is 60-90 songs as a bare minimum.
Some of my DJ friends travel with 15-20000 licensed, legally attained tracks.
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12-18 songs an hour, multiplied by even 5 hours is 60-90 songs as a bare minimum.
Some of my DJ friends travel with 15-20000 licensed, legally attained tracks.
Sent from my iPhone
Re: DJ'ing a prom?
I dont think i would have the nerve to listen to the music kids listens today for 5-6 hours. Not even they are paying me well.
I dont think i would have the nerve to listen to the music kids listens today for 5-6 hours. Not even they are paying me well.
Re: DJ'ing a prom?
I tried that once. The school wanted be because of my PA and lights. That part was great
I "tried" to be a DJ-It was a nightmare-------
I tried that once. The school wanted be because of my PA and lights. That part was great
I "tried" to be a DJ-It was a nightmare-------
Re: DJ'ing a prom?
As a former DJ from way way back trust me on this.......having never DJ'd a high school dance, asking a bunch of sound guys & girls what music is now popular with the high school crowd and planning to go and make your first DJ job the high school prom I can't see it going well for you.
Even if you listen to top 40 radio and get all the songs you hear for the next two months you will not have everything they want to hear and it will be a long night of saying "I'm sorry I don't have that song" as the kids are coming up and making request.
Every school will be different as to what they want to hear and dance to, you'll have the main hits that everybody wants but then you have the unique songs that are big hits within that particular school and those can be the songs that make or break the dance as to being successful or just suck to the kids, trust me they will be quick to judge!
Having worked with many schools at their other dances through out the year I learned what was specific to each one.
Some wanted a set of 50's & 60's mixed in, another wanted American Pie full length Don McLean version every dance. Some wanted country others would kill you if played country.
Do you have kids in High School, maybe you could do a music survey.
Keep in mind the difference between music to listen to and music that will keep the dance floor packed.
As a former DJ from way way back trust me on this.......having never DJ'd a high school dance, asking a bunch of sound guys & girls what music is now popular with the high school crowd and planning to go and make your first DJ job the high school prom I can't see it going well for you.
Even if you listen to top 40 radio and get all the songs you hear for the next two months you will not have everything they want to hear and it will be a long night of saying "I'm sorry I don't have that song" as the kids are coming up and making request.
Every school will be different as to what they want to hear and dance to, you'll have the main hits that everybody wants but then you have the unique songs that are big hits within that particular school and those can be the songs that make or break the dance as to being successful or just suck to the kids, trust me they will be quick to judge!
Having worked with many schools at their other dances through out the year I learned what was specific to each one.
Some wanted a set of 50's & 60's mixed in, another wanted American Pie full length Don McLean version every dance. Some wanted country others would kill you if played country.
Do you have kids in High School, maybe you could do a music survey.
Keep in mind the difference between music to listen to and music that will keep the dance floor packed.
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Re: DJ'ing a prom?
also remember to do this legally (you are going to do it legally right?) you have to purchase a license to play those songs, You also need to be able to beat match those songs (dead space will kill a good vibe) you also need to know how to build a playlist. Having never DJ'ed before and going straight for a semi-pro gig is like just getting out of high school and trying to build a jet engine... Yeah some can succeed at it but many will kill themselves or forever destroy their reputation. My suggestion is to use your equipment but hire a DJ to actually mix and deal with the music portion.
also remember to do this legally (you are going to do it legally right?) you have to purchase a license to play those songs, You also need to be able to beat match those songs (dead space will kill a good vibe) you also need to know how to build a playlist. Having never DJ'ed before and going straight for a semi-pro gig is like just getting out of high school and trying to build a jet engine... Yeah some can succeed at it but many will kill themselves or forever destroy their reputation. My suggestion is to use your equipment but hire a DJ to actually mix and deal with the music portion.
Re: DJ'ing a prom?
I'm a steadily working weekend club DJ catering to young singles, and even I'd be a little nervous about doing a teen prom. That's a whole different world. If it's school sponsored you'll need clean versions of everything (available through DJ pools - are you a member of one?) You'll also need to be able to grid, cue, mix, and edit... while all the time maintaining a seamless stream of music.
You will get requests for things you have no clue about unless you're completely immersed in today's music. Unless you have a thick skin and can handle being horribly embarrassed and frustrated, hiring an experienced high school DJ would be the better way to go IMO.
I'm a steadily working weekend club DJ catering to young singles, and even I'd be a little nervous about doing a teen prom. That's a whole different world. If it's school sponsored you'll need clean versions of everything (available through DJ pools - are you a member of one?) You'll also need to be able to grid, cue, mix, and edit... while all the time maintaining a seamless stream of music.
You will get requests for things you have no clue about unless you're completely immersed in today's music. Unless you have a thick skin and can handle being horribly embarrassed and frustrated, hiring an experienced high school DJ would be the better way to go IMO.
Re: DJ'ing a prom?
You might as well get a Spotify account and have a strong internet connection so you can take requests. Also check with the administration because they probably have a Do Not Play list floating around with other administrators.
I'm not a DJ, but am forced to play current music at some of the shows that I do. I have "djay" app that I bought in the app store for $20 that syncs with my iTunes that allows you to be a DJ. It does all the stuff you need it to do as well as find the tempo of songs for easy transitions.
You might as well get a Spotify account and have a strong internet connection so you can take requests. Also check with the administration because they probably have a Do Not Play list floating around with other administrators.
I'm not a DJ, but am forced to play current music at some of the shows that I do. I have "djay" app that I bought in the app store for $20 that syncs with my iTunes that allows you to be a DJ. It does all the stuff you need it to do as well as find the tempo of songs for easy transitions.
Re: DJ'ing a prom?
Agreed.
I also think the important question for the OP to ask the kids and others in the area who might knwow is "Who's a good DJ in the area?" then hire them. Really. Find some budget, provide the sound system, but have a known quantity with some experience and up to date library.
Best regards,
John
Agreed.
I also think the important question for the OP to ask the kids and others in the area who might knwow is "Who's a good DJ in the area?" then hire them. Really. Find some budget, provide the sound system, but have a known quantity with some experience and up to date library.
Best regards,
John
Re: DJ'ing a prom?
Last year, on a chemistry quiz for my highschool classes. I asked an extra credit question " name two songs and artists you would like to hear at prom" figuring to build up my dance library.
I wasn't going to DJ the prom so I didn't have to worry about what was appropriate.
In my opinion it is all lousy and since the edm fans hate the hip hop/rap and the rap fans hate the dubstep so whatever I play is wrong.
Saturday a bouncer in the club came up during the Casper slide and said I must hate playing that song (I do). I told him I had basically given up and no one had noticed the 8 songs I played before it were in alphabetical order.
Yep how does jay determine his play order? Alphabetical.
And that puts the wobble, another song requested every night that I hate at the end of the list.
The other night this dude comes up while the band was on stage and says I really should play Chris brown. Dude I have a band to worry about. We get to the break, there in the middle of my list are a couple of Chris brown songs so I play them. The same dude comes up to tell me his girlfriend really wants Chris brown. Dude I just played two of them.
Next weekend I am just going to play Steve Earle over a generic dance beat.
Sent from my DROID RAZR HD
Last year, on a chemistry quiz for my highschool classes. I asked an extra credit question " name two songs and artists you would like to hear at prom" figuring to build up my dance library.
I wasn't going to DJ the prom so I didn't have to worry about what was appropriate.
In my opinion it is all lousy and since the edm fans hate the hip hop/rap and the rap fans hate the dubstep so whatever I play is wrong.
Saturday a bouncer in the club came up during the Casper slide and said I must hate playing that song (I do). I told him I had basically given up and no one had noticed the 8 songs I played before it were in alphabetical order.
Yep how does jay determine his play order? Alphabetical.
And that puts the wobble, another song requested every night that I hate at the end of the list.
The other night this dude comes up while the band was on stage and says I really should play Chris brown. Dude I have a band to worry about. We get to the break, there in the middle of my list are a couple of Chris brown songs so I play them. The same dude comes up to tell me his girlfriend really wants Chris brown. Dude I just played two of them.
Next weekend I am just going to play Steve Earle over a generic dance beat.
Sent from my DROID RAZR HD
Re: DJ'ing a prom?
Back in the day at a high school dance I was getting request for a song by a guy named Garth Brooks, at that time no one knew who he was except the kids at that school I guess. One of them brought me their CD so I could play the song "The Dance" ,yea it was a huge hit to play that song. Just an example of that way out there song request that came make the party happen. I remember having to look at a few different music stores to even find that CD the week after I was enlightened about that new guy named Garth Brooks.
Back in the day at a high school dance I was getting request for a song by a guy named Garth Brooks, at that time no one knew who he was except the kids at that school I guess. One of them brought me their CD so I could play the song "The Dance" ,yea it was a huge hit to play that song. Just an example of that way out there song request that came make the party happen. I remember having to look at a few different music stores to even find that CD the week after I was enlightened about that new guy named Garth Brooks.
Re: DJ'ing a prom?
LOL, I know what you mean , i used to play songs at the break for the band i was in at the time , and people would come up and ask for certain songs and then after i played them came up and asked for them again and i said , I just p[layed that one. and their reply is well i was outside and didnt hear it. and my thought was well sorry. It will get on your nerves really quick.
LOL, I know what you mean , i used to play songs at the break for the band i was in at the time , and people would come up and ask for certain songs and then after i played them came up and asked for them again and i said , I just p[layed that one. and their reply is well i was outside and didnt hear it. and my thought was well sorry. It will get on your nerves really quick.