Christmas DJing

[DeargDoom]

elsewhere on this site we had a discussion about when radio stations should blow the dust off the Chrimbo CDs. But when do you think gigging DJs should start? Obviously you'll play it if its a christmas party - but for me, a poor ignorant bar jock - at what date should I give Wizzard a spin? (As late as possible is my own personal opinion)

BTW - is it just me or is it wrong to play BAND AID. Everybody loves it but I have a pain in my swiss looking at people guzzling food and drink while at the same time dancing and singing along to this homage to the starving millions. Perhaps its just me.

[The squire]

Not for a few weeks I think.. Maybe a weekend or two before christmas itself. Christmas is on a saturday this year so id say ill start playing the crimbo tunes friday week before that, with the exception of the odd one or two spins.

I think the punters really have to be in the festive spirit to really enjoy the tunes, say for instance if you play em next weekend.... The majority of your crowd wont be in the "Spirit" of things. So just ease off......

RE: band aid.... Bob geldof looks like he needs a good sandwhich far more than any african ive ever seen, I think the only reason he cares so much about them is cos hes a relative!!

[Iano]

For a start Dearg, your only a bar dj so your not cool .You really need to get yourself a gig where the music dosent really matter , only the people .
I dont care how much you earn Dearg, its not about the money , its about profile and how much respect you get from within the industry. Playing ''Walking on sunshine '' may pay the bills but just look at the reputation your getting yourself ....Jesus , wake up for gods sake , your destroying the music scene , and i dont care if your working 6 nights a week , its not about that .....

As for Geldof and Band Aid ? i felt sympathy in 84 , but now its different .
I paid my 1 pound 45 pence for the starving kids in Africa in the hope it may make a difference ....NOW ? They all grew up and f**kin moved to West Tallaght ....


Iano

[KJ]

lol@ Iano


It all depends on the gig. For example if 50 people on the Christmas lash from MBNA insurance and, say, 100 from IBM land in a late night venue tomorrow night and they're all spending around 30 Euro a head then it would make sense to accomadate them if you're DJing in Copper Face Jacks, Pal Joeys, Viper Rooms or anywhere else that gets parties in from as early as last week. One at the end of the night would suffice in this case.

Generally most music bars start with a few on the 10th, building upto around 15-20 minutes worth in the week leading upto Christmas day.

It can vary from venue to venue, the main thing to remember in December is most clubs lose their regular faces and you have a crowd who are there to get out of their brains on free beer, possibly pull that girl from Accounts and dance around a lampost when they get outside ;)

[darraghjm]

i normally start playin christmas songs when the venue puts there christmas decorations up, well thats just the way i do it,

[Rob Ryan]

"Pull the girl from accounts"????????????:confused:

Kelly its all about the secretary, ,:lol: everyone knows accountants use their personalities to avoid getting involved in one night stands!

[jolishan]

I usually start in or about the 10th December. This year it will be the 6th though because of the way the week begins for me. Another related question though. When do most DJ's STOP playing xmas songs? It would be interesting to see the results to that question.

[DarraghRoberts]

I may drop in Fairytale of New york this friday night! See what happens!

[Turiel]

Christmas party tonight so guess its gonna be tonight for me!

I was hoping to get away with it till later in the month, but ah well ;)

[Groossburger]

I started playing them last weekend they went down a bomb the usual ones Wham,Slade,Wizzard,Shakin Stevens,Mariah Carey and Fairytale of New York.Christmas Parties are starting much earlier the club was full of them it had to be done.

[Turiel]

Shakin Stevens, Mariah Carey, FNY, and Wham were the only ones that worked for me last night.

They just weren't interested in the other songs (the first gig last night was an office one 20-30 somethings, the 2nd was 18-19 year olds - same reactions).

[WayneScales]

To be honest literally nobody gives a crap about the cheeesy xmas music,i'm gonna 'try' NOT play any choons until and if anyone asks me to, i get the vibe tha people dont give a monkeys,they KNOW its Christmas already so why drag it out,on a dofferent note did a 4 hour gig with 4 rnb tracks at most and could not believe how well it went down,goes to prove somewheat how people also have a pain in their rings with the endless Beyonce Christina divel,although yeah on another nite it may have been different,but it was the dogs bo**ix alright! I do know a few of the D.4 daddys girls were prob pist off but hey the majority had a ball. RNB is dying a slow death (About bleedin time!) :nutter:

[Iano]

I disagree with ya Wayne on one issue . Your right yeah, nobody really gives a toss about cheesy xmas music in general but when these clowns who never really listen to quality music from one end of the year to another get a few drinks on them and decide its time to hit a club , then they do give a crap .Why ?? because its xmas and they fell its time to party because their DRUNK.
Annoying isnt it .

As for r&b music ,well , if you look hard enough it IS possible to entertain a crowd with something different .
Any new r&b that has been released in recent months has not had a floor reaction anywhere.
I spoke to collegues on the circut and all have agreeed the scene has gone stale.
I actually think old dance and decent retro is working now because the regulars are bored just as much as the dj's are and happy to hear classics just because its a change.

I really feel r&b music is partly responsible for the demise in music in mainstream clubs .Not because i dislike it , but because it has killed the athmosphere of mainstream clubs , it dosent create a happy vibe.

I have had plenty of people up to me looking for J.ZEE, or Dr Dre, only to see a floor clear because its impossible to dance to the fuckin thing , but they still insist in asking for it week in weel out .

Solution ?? play the hits , back to back if you have to , play the classics along with a few surprises by going through your collection , youll be surprised the amount of tunes you never play but should .

As for the r&b scene ? if it dies a death i wont be sorry .


Iano.

[KJ]

Originally posted by jolishan
I usually start in or about the 10th December. This year it will be the 6th though because of the way the week begins for me. Another related question though. When do most DJ's STOP playing xmas songs? It would be interesting to see the results to that question.

Interesting question, some play right upto New Year's Eve but I think the vibe is gone after your last gig before Christmas Day (usually Dec 23)

Played *one* on Friday cos it was that kind of atmosphere. Why a songwriter like Cathy Dennis ("Cant Get You Out Of My Head", "Leave Right Now") doesnt sit down to produce a big Christmas pop song is baffling!

There hasnt really been one since Mariah Carey "All I Want ....."