Do you preplan your sets?

[BAMAXXX]

For those that rock shows, do you pre plan your sets? Do you know how your going to mix? Or do you just do what you feel that night?

[dj daywalker]

I just had my first gig last night I knew the first 2-3 songs I was going to play but after that really had no idea. If you preplan the entire set its going to be a hit or miss. You have to be able to read the crowd. For example I had a song cued up to go next then the drop of the current song came and the crowd was really feelin it and I ended up changing the next song because of it. I was like oh, if they are really feeling this song then I should play this other song instead of the one I have cued up.

[Austin GoGreen]

Yes and No. I have tons of crates of music. Some include pre-planned sets. These sets may be routines I used in battles or on mixtapes, things I know sound good. Some sets may be 50 tracks, others may be 3 or 4.

There's no wrong or right way. I know a lot of dj's that map out sets. I think of the night as a game. I have a playbook with plays I know work and I have several audibles in case things go differently.

[Philhouse]

I pre planned a set for the very first show I ever played, luckily it all went smoothly and the crowed was feeling everything I was playing, but since then the most I'll ever plan for a gig is just having a crate of 40-50 songs that I'm really enjoying at the time and that I think will go well with the crowed I'm playing to. I find that playing randomly is when I have the most fun and where I get the most creative.

[Austin GoGreen]

I pre planned a set for the very first show I ever played, luckily it all went smoothly and the crowed was feeling everything I was playing, but since then the most I'll ever plan for a gig is just having a crate of 40-50 songs that I'm really enjoying at the time and that I think will go well with the crowed I'm playing to. I find that playing randomly is when I have the most fun and where I get the most creative.

For sure! Nothing beats reading a crowd and beating them with beats. Its often, but when I get the right crowd and we're completely in tune with each other, nothing is better than playing live off-the-top.

[mantis]

Preparation is the key but it doesnt mean you have to completely preplan your set. Just prepare playlists of tracks that work together and file them together - if you use a dvs then you can simply use digital playlists and if you use cds, you can make playlists on cd.

if you practice often enough then this will all be ok

[purex like soap]

no, i just have a planned play list. I stray from that some of the time if i get requests for songs that are on my list.

[Era 7]

i just make a crate of tracks for the evening.

[DJ ATX]

I have playlist but rarely ever go by it. I plan maybe the 1st 2-3 songs. After that I tryout different stuff and see what the crowd is grooving to and go from there.

Rather than planning your set, your time is best served in first learning and/or practicing the basics. Beat matching. Phrasing. As long as you have the basics you can mix anything with a beat/melody. Next is to KNOW your music library.

[DTR]

I plan maybe the 1st 2-3 songs.