DJ'ing advice - Fillers

[Ed]

Right, I consider myself more than capable of picking a cracker. I love vocally uplifting stuff from disco right through to present day. I'm starting to compile sets to practise, but I am concerned that I don't want to sound like a Ministry of Sound CD, with one floor filler after another.

So the question is - how do you pick your fillers? Do you go for instrumental type tunes in between the more vocal ones? Do you go for something a bit harder in between the big hands in the air moments?

Just curious like. All advice comments welcomed!

Cheers
Ed

(Going to record myself for the first tiem this weekend, am prepared to be disappointed lol!)

 

[pauly p]

Fillers are the best for building a set or taking it to the next level etc...
A filler shouldnt be a "filler" but part of the journey

Its easier to pick the anthems but sometimes a filler can be one of the best tunes played without wanting to be just that.

 

[NickSheldon]

At the end of the day...

You just play to the crowd.

You gotta gauge what they're doing, and take them with you.

Every DJ has different styles. Don't copy, just make your own.

When I was DJ'ing, I never listened to other DJ's / CD's etc.
I used to do my own tapes/CD's, so I didn't get led along any certain way.
BTW, I didn't conciously make a decision to NOT listen to other DJ's, I was too busy gigging everywhere myself to have time, so it's just the way it panned out.

 

[blandy]

Me

All i ever do is stick loadsa piano on one after another. Am not even botherd about how good the mixin is, just as long as theres loadsa piano. That might be why the biggest place I've ever DJ'd is me bedroom.

 

[Ed]

You just play to the crowd.

You gotta gauge what they're doing, and take them with you.

Every DJ has different styles. Don't copy, just make your own.

When I was DJ'ing, I never listened to other DJ's / CD's etc.
I used to do my own tapes/CD's, so I didn't get led along any certain way.
BTW, I didn't conciously make a decision to NOT listen to other DJ's, I was too busy gigging everywhere myself to have time, so it's just the way it panned out.

Lol, I'm at the stage where I can't look at the crowd cos the feckers won't beat match!
Its interestiong what you say abount not listening to other dj's though. Maybe I need to do that for a bit and develop a style. The main problem is I like everything from disco, northern soul, early house, acid, hardcore, MAW and newer funkier house, hip hop type tunes. I realise some things just won't go together, but it is difficult to know where to start.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Ed]

Its easier to pick the anthems but sometimes a filler can be one of the best tunes played without wanting to be just that.

Sounds like Chinese wisdom this, I like it. One of the reasons I started the thread is I'm concious of the journey. The good Dj's always used to do this, so I'm trying to develop it myself.

I'm going to write down a set this weekend or about 10 tunes and practice it and tape it and see how it is. Trouble is I can see myself gettign a bit anal about it afterwards lol.

Thanks for the tips Pauly.

 

[NickSheldon]

Oh man, you will get anal about it.

You'll dissect every part of it afterwards, especially if you listen whilst having a toke

 

[Ed]

Lol. I might just do that as well. And a beer.

 

[LeedsDJ]

I haven't had that much experience in playing to crowds, but when I have the best feeling in the world is getting people up and into tunes they have never heard before. Anyone can go and slam on the biggest, most well known tracks and get the reactions they want, but I think a true talent can build an atmosphere using lesser known tracks. slipping in a more popular tune every now to keep them interested. Everyone has heard the biggest tunes before so every beat and bar is recognisable, so, IMO, picking tunes that are lesser known gives you more of an opportunity to take people on a journey. alternative mixes and b-sides are a good start i think. I think dubs are good for this as they are not as well known but they usually have an element of the original track so people can still recognise the tune, but it creates a different mood than the hammered original.

Sorry I'm rambling.

 

[Ed]

I haven't had that much experience in playing to crowds, but when I have the best feeling in the world is getting people up and into tunes they have never heard before. Anyone can go and slam on the biggest, most well known tracks and get the reactions they want, but I think a true talent can build an atmosphere using lesser known tracks. slipping in a more popular tune every now to keep them interested. Everyone has heard the biggest tunes before so every beat and bar is recognisable, so, IMO, picking tunes that are lesser known gives you more of an opportunity to take people on a journey. alternative mixes and b-sides are a good start i think. I think dubs are good for this as they are not as well known but they usually have an element of the original track so people can still recognise the tune, but it creates a different mood than the hammered original.

Sorry I'm rambling.

THe alternative mixes B sides idea is a good one. I think Sasha used to do that. I'm going to try that a bit I think going forward. THanks for taking th time to post.

 

[glenn]

i remember reading a tony humphries interveiw once and he recond every 3rd song or every 15 mins should be a winner,but thats just his choise.when i used to make tapes[dont any more aint got the machines!]i used to start with deep stuff then into garage dubs then into full on house mode for the best part of it then take it a litle harder for 3-4 traks then backinto house mode,maybea with 1-2 clasiics thrown in!!!

 

[Mister_DJ]

I'd say deffo pick something different that you've not heard played out in a long time (or ever in fact!) and get them stuck in phones:

The first thing I thought of when I read the thread was using dubs and stuff with odd quirky noises in them. Its hard to describe but I've been listening to a lot of old tapes recently and I love hearing stuff I don't know that just builds and builds (often played right before a familiar tune kicks in) and they've got really queer or unusual noises running in them - you often find them on the early US or Italo b-sides.

Does that last bit make any sense??? This is before I've gone out and got leathered tonight honest - Lol :$

Mart

 

[dodgymix]

Oh man, you will get anal about it.

You'll dissect every part of it afterwards, especially if you listen whilst having a toke

I used to give the tapes to my girlfriend to listen to in the car with no label.

when I first met her i'd only been djing for a couple of years and wasn't too good.

but you know when you get better when she asks you who the DJ is?....winner

I can't compile tracklistings to mix as they never go right, I prefer just to shove on what comes into my head (or "want to anyway" but can't find the bugger so I have to find something else)

 

[fred_funk]

I think a lot really depends on what you are trying to achieve.

If the "mix" is crucially important then that might end up having a major hand in the direction of the music.

I used that as a bit of a rule, but that was always superceded by what I wanted to achieve in a set. That might be start slow/build up/go nuts/calm down for a bit/build back up/etc./etc.

I did a series of tapes for my myself and my mates, which I have since lost (both the tapes and the details) :$ It was a four volume episode, with the first being very chilled, the last being pretty banging techno and the other two being somewhere in between. That was a definite plan on my part as they were structured, planned tapes. That can work for tapes but not live. If it's live then I think you have to meander in whatever direction your mood and the tunes takes you (btw I am talking from a bedroom djs point of view - not somebody playing out) You can have a bit of a plan, but if it's freestyle then it is subject to change very quickly.

 

[Wezza]

play wot you feel or practise with some records you know the beats and rhythms of and try and put them in a order wot you feel will work .