The most important job a DJ has is getting people to dance, but there is other stuff too. No matter how good you are at mixing records, a music producer that does not promote their music can never be heard. Many disc jockeys take matters into their own hands by marketing their events. Luckily DJ’s end up meeting a lot of people anyway, by the very nature of their work. Here are five ways to actively engage an audience.
Give Them a Shout Out on the Mic
Traditionally disc jockeys have a microphone that they use to make announcements. This can be helpful if someone leaves their car lights on in the parking lot. But your microphone has other uses too. Opening DJ’s have to introduce the headliner. This is an easy way to hype up the crowd, because that’s usually who they came to see. But you have the opportunity to say whatever you want within reason. Seasoned DJ’s have the ability to excite the audience by saying stuff like, “Now I want you all to jump,” or, “Let’s make some noise!” This is much more effective if there is no unpleasant audio feedback, so don’t stand too close to the speakers. As your set winds down you may want to announce your next event, in case people are looking for an afterparty.
Write Funny Messages to the Crowd
If there is a lot of outside noise pollution, consider typing out messages instead of a microphone. House producers Above & Beyond, Armin Van Buuren and Dash Berlin employ this technique at stadium shows. This is a great way to further incorporate a message into your DJ set. Or do a karaoke thing so your fans can sing a long to the words of their favorite songs. It makes sense because most clubs have LED projectors or television screens scattered throughout the venue. There is more than one way to do this. An audiovisual software program called Resolume will do the trick, or even a projector connected to a laptop running Microsoft Word.
Engage in Social Media Interactions
Most music venues allow smartphones and social media has become an integral direct marketing tool for entertainment companies. If someone mentions you on Twitter it does not hurt to reply, or at least like it, especially if there are only a handful of people in the room. Producers with a large following have the opportunity to engage people in the audience by retweeting or sharing their posts. For example when someone takes an excellent picture of you in front of the booth, it helps both the photographer and the DJ to show it to as many people as possible. However do not participate in trolling or get overly involved in an inflammatory message thread. Too much drama online may cause you to seem immature and unprofessional.
Participate in the Celebratory Event
Assuming you are not locked to the turntables all night, take the time to interact with the club goers on a one-on-one basis. You may as well take advantage of DJ privileges at the bar if you have them, and this is the perfect chance to talk to those in attendance. People like to meet the DJ because oftentimes they are the one in the center of attention at the front of the room. If you feel inspired to get down and dance with them they will think you are pretty cool, and may add you on Facebook or Instagram. Many promoters choose to set up a merch table at each event, or pass out a lot of fliers advertising their next party.
Incorporate Wicked Good Visuals
Nothing engages an audience as well as a giant LED screen playing a series of hypnotic images. And people need something to look at between dances and breaks in conversation. Maybe you can’t afford to spell your name out in ten foot tall lights, or a big finale with four giant pillars of fire (not yet anyway). But there are many ways to get creative with visuals. One low cost option involves playing a movie with the sound turned all the way down. The images playing on a loop in the background lend feeling to the evening, and it appears to drunk people that the video footage is playing in sync to the music. Or edit your own ‘VJ’ visuals using production software.
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