opening at a club for the first time

**kaboom** · 08-06-2012, 10:42 PM

In a few weeks I will be opening at a very decent club near me - the main DJ plays typical Top 40, house, electro. I have been told that it will be rather dead during my set so it's a perfect low pressure first club gig for me...up until this point I have only done mobile stuff.

I want to make sure I do not step on his toes...I want to keep the energy down like a good opener should. That being said, there's a fine line between that and playing a boring set, if I stick with deep and tech house all night I might bore everyone since it's Top 40 crowd.

I've been told that it would be a good idea to play downtempo, chill house remixes with Top 40 elements...immediately Like A G6 (Jordylicious 1500 Followers Bootleg) came to mind. Also Stereo Love (Joe Fresh Blend). Stuff like that....however, I am VERY quickly running out of similar deep, chilled out or lower energy house remixes of Top 40 stuff. It's very difficult to find.

...any advice?

**rain91** · 08-06-2012, 10:52 PM

**Defiance** · 08-06-2012, 11:49 PM

I typically do a 90s-00s set from 9pm to when it starts to get crowded. If its an older crowd there (aka dinner crowd) I try the 70s-80s 'disco' type music. I've also never had much success at doing anything outside of mainstream stuff that early.

**kaboom** · 08-07-2012, 09:47 AM

Those first two tracks are EXACTLY the kind of stuff I'm looking for =) thanks! I'm finding it really hard to find...

Any other advice from anyone?

**Andrew1207** · 08-07-2012, 09:54 AM

Fun/upbeat nu disco with the occasional throwbacks (90s, early 00s) works for me.

**VjQue** · 08-07-2012, 10:00 AM

Let me help you on this as I tell every DJ that's a new opener for me.

1) go to the club Early on nights your not spinning that you want to spin at and listen to either the main DJ or opener set.

Don't just show up like I wanna DJ here and then you get get a opening spot but don't know what to play.
Talk to the main DJ and get his opening set track list cause I can tell you first hand the promoter don't know shit about a DJ set or music genre.

All they know is he play top 40, old school,hiphop etc but not what time frame.

That's the best advice you will get from a weekly club DJ. I have 4 residents a week. And that's what I tell my openers.

If they don't come any other time and listen to my earlier set or whoever I have then I won't let them open for me.

Do your homework on the club crowd before you ask to open there.

Now on that note play what they said is played but go back 6 months to a year on the selected music.

Don't play nothing current as most likely he has them programmed for his music selection already and you could burn them out to soon.

Then he will never let you spin there again.