I just finished my first set...

I just finished my first gig as a DJ in SL. I had a major technical issue (my mic blew out), but besides that things went pretty well.
I was just wondering, what do you think makes a good DJ? Any special qualities or characteristics?
Thanks everyone!

A good DJ only plays You Shook Me All Night Long, Twist and Shout, and Strokin'.

EDIT: And Open Arms during the slow dance.

I'm sure playing good music is #1 on everyone's list. Too bad everyone doesn't listen to the same music.

Hmm...

GOtta hit just the right amount of talk. Too much and it just upsets me.. Too little, and I'll invariably end up wanting to know the name of the song you *don't* announce. Oh and PLEASE don't talk over the songs. I *HATE* that.

Don't shift too wildly betwen fast and slow paced songs. Not much worse that getting a good steam going on a great song, only to have to put the brakes on when the next one turns out to be a ballad or something.

Here's a toughie: Have an opinon, but don't push it on the listeners... Tough to balance that one.

Not sure what else.. A good DJ is likes a friend you enjoy listening to music with.

Gawd, and I didn't play any of those...

Oh so you were doing one of those "alternative" sets? In that case your playlist should consist solely of: My Sharona, Mony Mony (long version), and The Safety Dance.

Slow dance is a toss-up here since those "alternative" types don't go too much for physical contact. However if it looks like some of them want to snuggle up you have a choice between Careless Whisper and True.

You're welcome.

Shut up and play music, take requests. Thats about it.

No dead air, or cutting songs short. Those are sins no. 1 and 2 for a DJ, you'll go straight to MusicHell for those...

There are two kinds of SL DJ's I like.

The Music Only DJs just play music and take requests. They work best when they have a simple system in place for taking and queuing requests. They also watch the crowd and listen to the conversation so as to match the music to fit the activity.

The Talky DJs are much like ordinary radio DJs. They keep their comments humorous but brief and play at least two songs in a row between interruptions. They should be aware of what's going on and be interacting with the crowd so that they can talk about the action on-air.

I've had extensive experience with DJs so here's a few things essential to being a good DJ...

1) Get drunk and take the owner's daughter home to your VW bus.

2) Leave her passed out on the porch of her house with her clothes put on all wrong.

3) Keep a bright 10M Candlepower spotlight with you to blind any audience members who might try to look in your direction.

4) Talk through a megaphone.

5) Two words: Throw Food.

6) Hawk your CDs at every chance and hint that you also have 'shrooms for sale.

7) Get a mullet and wear baggy pants that show off your spotty underwear.

Put on a loooong song (like Inna-Godda-Divida) and leave for half an hour while it plays.

9) Do that scratchy thing with records that old people do when they rap.

and finally...

10) PLAY FREEBIRD!!!!

I agree with Harris and I would like to add to it a bit. Have fun while you DJ!! If your listeners hear that you are having fun it will come over to them as well! Nothing worse than a DJ who talks in monotone or has no feeling in their voice! Be observant of what of your listeners are saying and a good DJ ALWAYS plays requests!! In a nutshell, a good DJ is a mix of what Harris said !

a good DJ **KNOWS** good music.. and wont be afraid to take a gamble on a crowd.. if your sitting there banging out the top 50 night after night your not a DJ.. a full set of requests wont work.. its going to sound disjointed and flakey.. so set aside one or two for requests and make a setlist for the rest. (IMO of course)

Yes I will agree, any DJ worth their salt should KNOW and be very familiar with the artists in whatever genre of music they may be DJing! In my experiences as a DJ what I do is plan a playlist ahead, using a mix of top tunes as well as old favorites and as I get requests (the backbone of where I DJ and I am all about keeping my listeners happy!) After all, we as DJs are here to entertain our listeners, not please ourselves. You have to be flexible to be a good DJ or in my opinion you won't be around long , but then that is just my opinion

are there any turntablist dj's in sl? i wanna go see me some scratchin' and samplin' and hacking together of original material from the old. this is the kinda thing that'd actually make me leave my land and go to a club one evening.

Well I make it a point to know my crowd when I DJ. If i'm at a goth club, celtic folk is SO not going to go over well. One of the things I love to do when I dj is turn people on to music they haven't heard before. So I'm liable to throw some tunes in that I think people might like but that they haven't heard.

Did you DJ my wedding?

Maybe you could revise #1,2and7 for the classy female DJ? Otherwise, I see where you're going with this...
next gig, I am so playing some Tenacious D

I am. I'm a RL & SL professional DJ specializing in all forms of electronica, sctratching, turntablism, and beat manipulation. Come on by and check out one of my sets sometime if you're into that sort of thing.

1. Beaware of whats going on in the club.

2. Play requests. I always have friends on that can get songs I cant find.

3. Have fun and be sure to mention peoples names on air that way they can feel "important".

4. If you are going to DJ at a club regularly take a notebook and write songs down that people request and next time your there and that person is there play it without them requesting it. Doing that will make them think you remember them and that in turn will bring in more tips.

5. Unless the club management says you need to mention tips, only do it a couple times but make sure when you do mention that tips are appreicated you dont sound desperate.

6. Try to dress the event on hand. I have been to a couple clubs where the DJ was active in with the people but was not dressed for the event. (I am guilty of that )

7. If at anytime you feel like it is too much work take a break, too many DJ's in world get burnt out.