University town Bar: Mainstream music vs real house/hip hop

[Dandruff]

Hey guys, I've just started a gig at a university town bar. I've DJ'd a few nights and so far not bad. The clientel are usually on average 20 year olds. Ill explain my gig last night.

I mainly played house music/dancy house during the busiest times, with hiphop songs tossed in here and there. HARDELY ANY POP (ballsy) lol. I made a an hour and a half mix beforehand because they don't have the equipment for me to mix yet..(without CDs).. Therefore I couldn't do song requests. Anyways, getting to the point, a lot of girls came up to me and asked for shit ass music like spice girls or LMFAO or even katey perry, get low.., call me maybe (original version). I was suprised they weren't digging the 128 hard dance house with dirty and classic hiphop, they where asking for something more girly.

SO, my question, do I sell my soul and become an iTunes playing top 40 dj or just incoporate mainstream into my set? These people want to hear what they hear on the radio. Although I did keep the crowd moving, I jus got a lot of negative feedback from the women. I was thinkin about it and my set was more for a musical festival I guess. I know I can't please everyone but at the same time I can't piss off the women because that's why the men are there.

Thanks for reading this discombobulating/disorganized story, hopefully I can get advice from people who have been through this or just knowledgable musickers.
Cheers

[Andrew B]

Play music that suits the crowd. If your music is at odds with what the crowd wants, then you can either 1) change the music that you're playing, or 2) don't take the gig.

[Hausgeist]

If the women ain't happy, no one ain't happy. That is the truth.

Edit: This applies to life in general, not just DJing.

[den1213]

Play music that suits the crowd. If your music is at odds with what the crowd wants, then you can either 1) change the music that you're playing, or 2) don't take the gig.

Thumbs up to the above response. Part of being a 'PROFESSIONAL' is the ability (or understanding) to turn down a show that you are NOT equipped to produce!

[Dandruff]

Thanks for the timely responses guys. Much truth too what you stated Andrew. I guess maybe I was hoping to change this "bar" into more of a club in terms of music played. I should stick too what has worked in the past for the previous djs, and play different music at other gigs. Should I try to take the majority of requests? But then again, where is the revolutionary and individuality in that? Or am I over thinking it... haha Is this the time to bring out the top 40 billboards and download it all?
Cheers guys

[Hausgeist]

If you are trying to change over an established joint, you are going to have a tough time of it. If you are looking to establish a new scene, you are better off starting at ground zero with your own party at a fresh venue (perhaps something you need to provide yourself). Starting new is a lot of work, but it might pay off for you.

[Dandruff]

If you are trying to change over an established joint, you are going to have a tough time of it. If you are looking to establish a new scene, you are better off starting at ground zero with your own party at a fresh venue (perhaps something you need to provide yourself). Starting new is a lot of work, but it might pay off for you.

For sure. Honestly man, I'm just gonna get a wack load of pop/mainstream music.. (Sean Desmond - electric) and keep the requests awnsered. Guess I'll have to save the dope house for a preplanned house music event. I thought women (people in general) love house music because they can move to a 128 bpm, shows how much I know about the music "buisness". In the end, I think the main thing is too try and make everyone happy.. Including yourself.

[KLH]

People tend to like what they know and what they think their friends like. When in doubt, sound like a popular radio station... as hard to stomach as that is.

-KLH

[Mixxed]

Keep the women happy, and you'll be OK.

Gain the crowd's trust by playing shit they're familiar with, the stuff they like... Throw in your own personal selections bookended by a couple of "safe" tracks if you want to vary it up a bit... But yeah, if you're getting paid to play, keep the people happy. Part of being a good DJ is playing shit you can't stand.. and doing it well

[Dandruff]

Okay great stuff guys, I plan to throw a rager of a top 40 set next weekend I don't understand how people can keep listening to the same mainstream tracks, but alas perhaps it is because they don't listen as much or don't have a developed opinion on the genres and are attracted to whatever is most catchy. I think I've heard "Wild Ones" enough to throw myself off a bridge. Keep the people happy by playing tracks you hate, gotta love it aha. On a side note, do you guys always take requests or just if it doesn't completely throw off your set? I told about 10 people I would look for their requested track and never played it... erk