The Crowd is Not Feeling You?

[@Jedi_Jonson]

well dj class 101, NEVER start your night off with bangers unless your the ending dj. no one wants to come to a party sober and instantly hear a banger and jump straight into getting down on the dance floor that never happens. if the crowd is not feeling i usually just switch between all genre's old and new alike and if thats fails then you cant be so hard on yourself, one thing i learned about djing very fast is you cant please everyone and for every 1 song someone likes another person wont like.

[@djTLMtv]

Truth!

[@MrGlanderson]

I hate when I get request for the bangers early in the party,

[@popoff7808]

Depends on the place I've see club DJ in SF start strong and stay string especially on 70s disco nights. Don't wait any time and just get to the main event and people never leave the floor. But other times I've seen people build it up.

[@remingtonharlan2162]

I dont mean to be so offtopic but does anybody know of a trick to log back into an Instagram account? I stupidly lost my account password. I appreciate any tricks you can give me.

[@paxtonzayd4293]

@Remington Harlan instablaster :)

[@Reddi904]

Every DJ will go through this at some point in their career. #Truth

[@WeBoogie28]

DJ Reddi right...cant beat yourself up

[@BennyBNYC]

I DJed a wedding like this last year. Nobody danced no matter what so I just did like you: I played what I thought was a good set. At the end of the night the bride and groom told me I killed it, I was amazing, etc... So you never know. Staying calm under pressure and not getting rattled is the most important thing..

[@HerbertWest7734]

Benny B Yeah, sometimes people are just not in a mood to dance and they just want to hang out and have a good time. I had one wedding where the only thing people danced to all night were slow songs. As soon as i tried to pick it up they scattered. But they would slow dance for like 6 songs in a row.

[@thewarmantrio]

no. 1 factor....is there alcohol? haha

[@Jordybuilt]

I’ve had that happen at a wedding and also a 60th bday. No matter what I played new or old no one danced but still got a good review at the end of the night. They also said my family isn’t really a party family so it wasn’t so bad

[@luissoto8771]

This is when the karaoke get broken out lpl

[@marcushynek7075]

spike their drinks with extasy that usually works or just don't play at funerals

[@sunnygotheat2504]

When I Dj for Hip Hop crowds or mix crowds. I notice that if you can get the girls dancing the guys will follow.

[@jettsettaswagg3400]

Adrian Terry so true...always works for me.

[@SmoothBlendzTV]

So true bruh. You gotta get the ladies up and the fellas will follow. Also in my opinion it depends on the night you're playing. If it's a Friday night and people were working that day and decided to go out after work or that night, a lot of times they're just gonna come to chill and vibe out and relax and you'll get some head bopping but that's about it. That's if you're playing at a bar or lounge. At a couple of my residencies I already know Fridays the crowd is just gonna chill and maybe some dancing but Saturday night will be poppin. Always the same like clockwork. I'm in NYC it may vary depending on demographics.

[@WeBoogie28]

Will Garcia tru.

[@jackakar2982]

Yeah cheers to the ladies :). And also about the place where you play. if you play at a house where everybody just sipping from their drinks and talking in a corner it doesnt have to be that they should dance coz it's their home and they feel relaxed. I look at their faces and if they're smiling and wagging around in rhyme then it's a good reaction for me. If it's a club and nobody is dancing as Will said the night you play your tunes is very important.

[@MrGlanderson]

That was one of the first things I discovered when I started DJing.

[@djwee-wooentertainmentserv8386]

Mad Respect to you bro. When I have a crowd that doesnt seem to be alive, I usually get on the mic and say "is it cold in here?" or "Is the bartender serving you your dance drink?" I start saying anything that will compel them to come to my booth and start saying to me what they love to hear. You always want to get your crowd to feel guilty as to why they are not alive. Make them feel like they should show the dj how they get down.

[@don1mega]

At times like this, You have to really pull out the wild card. About 8 years ago, I was Dj'ing at the local hip hop club and it was going on midnight and NO ONE was dancing. My Partner (White Guy That Knows A Little Country) told me to play Boot Scoot Boogie. I was like "I don't think so" so after a couple more attempts "with no luck" to get the dance floor going, I was like "What the Hell, Let's Do It!" And To my surprise, They Ran To The Dance Floor. Sometimes, You have to Step OUTSIDE THE BOX! And from there I was able to do my thang......

[@DjDRam1]

It's happened to all of us DJ's, I noticed this happens more in the younger crowds in my area.. Get video as always

[@rosariofamily8098]

I went thru this at a private Baby Shower gig. The crowd wasn't into dancing that night. A year later that same crowd was reunited a 1st birthday party wishing I was not just a guest. The radio Dj that was hired for that night made them realized I how good of a Dj I was at the baby shower.

[@rosariofamily8098]

It took a whole year to get my self motivated again in to my passion of great music.

[@DilVan16]

btw DJTLMTL. I've learned so much about djing via your videos and tutorials. keep sharing the knowledge. thank you

[@jay2exclusive]

This is funny because I experienced this last night. In my experience I would do exactly as you said change the genre and experiment to see what people move to. But the party felt like a social event than a party. There was over 300 photos taken by the attendees in the 4 hour set I played for. it is very strange for me because I am used to the crowd moving but I could not get the energy from the dance floor. But after my set a few people asked for my business cards. I can't explain it but, some people just don't like to move or react.

[@djTLMtv]

Yup, been in that situation too. It does feel weird

[@jay2exclusive]

djTLMtv I appreciate you. Keep up the good work!

[@danh296]

Happened to me last night too!

[@jay2exclusive]

Glad I'm not the only one. Here's a thought I am considering. I have not done video before but I wonder if any VDJ's has had this situation with while playing video?

[@ClectaSkiMusic]

Out here in the Caribbean we call that kinda crowd "Stush" ... They dont really react to good music no matter how much they like it.. mainly because they just... well feel they "too good" to react in a hype club party type feel...

[@djTLMtv]

Oh yeah! That is also a reason some crowds do not get hype. You're so right

[@Mecasmiwanke]

Yuh nuh lying there bro

[@squaredlight]

so true i been there done that had a four hour set high school party set. the first two hours dead after two hours when the high school students left and grown folks was there i switch to their type of music and the the crowd was hype

[@eks67]

Yup! They think they're too cool! They're too afraid to come out of their shell. Don't fight the feeling lol

[@gforcevg]

trust mi bredda is a real thing

[@tensionkc8679]

I've had my share of these types of crowds, usually the older crowd. A good way to tell if they're feeling your set, is if they stick around most the night. They usually will compliment your selection too, even though they may seemed dry, but still dance. lol Some crowds are just more laid back, and enjoy mingling, while good music is being played.

[@IAmTonyDub]

DJTLM gave good advice. I can't count how many times I thought I had a terrible set because people weren't reacting and I got a lot of compliments. Go with your gut and feel the vibe. Just because people are going crazy, doesn't mean you aren't playing a good set. BE CONFIDENT!

[@EcoleDimes]

If I'm playing a set and the crowd isn't feeling it so much or at least I think they aren't feeling it I will start t go to the main stream hits. I go to the songs that I know that there's a good chance that at least 85% of the crowd will like. It doesn't even have to be brand new songs just yet. I do that as a test to see is it me or is the crowd is a low energy type of crowd as DJ TLM explained in this video. Also another thing you can do is hop on the mic and let the crowd know to tweet you their song requests, that way no one has to come up to the stage and you can kind of get a general idea of what they are wanting to here just by looking at your phone.

[@DJReminisce1]

I notice from personal experience that sometimes when the crowd isn't reacting and you think you sucked, at the end of the night everyone comes to you and says they had a great time. It's weird

[@TheGrove603]

I did a show during Halloween for a crowd of 200 people or so. I was mixing for about 8 or 9 hours straight. at the end of the night I switched into more EDM dance versus The Hip Hop Pop stuff from earlier. I then had the promoter of the show come up to me saying that the crowd wasn't feeling it. at that point I was so expensed with my music that I was completely derailed. and was forced to repeat certain songs that I played earlier in the night. after that night I've learn to develop backup plans and also expand my library. it was a tough lesson but sometimes the crowd can just get unruly as well. my largest show to date. love hearing advice from you man one love from New Hampshire USA

[@theupload120]

Keep feeding us with your wisdom. Thanks Peace

[@ma1neevent949]

happens a lot early in the night. I get the "we're not Drunk enough". usually by the later part of the night they are more ready to dance.

[@avh700]

People have a hard time reading people because they have not done the homework of coming to the venue ahead of time(days prior or on the same day a week in advance) and seeing what is the norm. True it is not always possible to do so, but it helps. I worked at many venues and although you may see a dance floor, it doesn't mean that people dance there on a regular. It makes it hard for first timers. My approach is to mingle with guests before I play. Talk with any or all staff to find out what the norm is and the purpose of the DJ. What is the mindset of the regular guests? Is this venue a social venue, a place for conversing? Is it a local bar scene? Is this a happy go lucky spot? Some cultures or people in certain environments don't show emotion or dance for that matter. Some are poor dancers. Sometimes there are too many guys, some have plenty of women, but are not dancing or showing emotions because of the culture and or setting. Having this info is key. You could be the best Dj in the world but if the crowd is not a party crowd, they will not get what is taking place. They may like your music, but because DJ's don't see a reaction, they get fustrated, and never connect with the audience. Some venues ban MCing. The timing of the night is also key. Partiers might not come until a certain time. Are there distractions like sports or events on a screen. I have found that at times it's better to be jukebox like and be a bar DJ at first. It encourages sing-alongs and people are happy you're playing familiar themes that include the room. By the time you loose them up they have a good time and don't care if they look like a fool. That's the time you do your thing first with the music that got them in the mood. Cater to the audience more and eventually they may open up to you with your Jedi skills.

[@djTLMtv]

+avh700 you make a very valid point. Sometimes I even think I need to do my homework better. I always try to get there an hour or two in advance to hear what the DJ before me is doing and how the crowd reacts to it, but knowing what to expect before I go there is even better because it would allow me to select different tracks than I might normally take.

[@JimLigon]

Good advice as usual, DJ TLM. I wonder who the hater is who gave you the one dislike. LOL! The internet is a joke sometimes. Keep up the good work, bruh!

[@hIdDewOw]

Ok so now if someone dislikes, you're automatically a hater?

[@JimLigon]

Are you the one that disliked the video?

[@JimLigon]

I said that because he usually gets no dislikes because he's helpful, real and unbiased. So in DJ TLM's case, yes. If you dislike his videos, you're probably just hating. I said probably. I hope you know what probably means.

[@hIdDewOw]

Jim Ligon Lmao, no I didn't dislike, I liked..

[@JimLigon]

I'm glad you liked. DJ TLM is one of the good people we have on KZbin that actually is here to help.

[@krazie0013]

Good topic, I basically do the same. Switch it up to different genres, different eras, or sometimes just different BPM is a game changer. I can mix club style, but I mainly do weddings and corporate so I can let ppl know that I'm open to requests. Sometimes having that group involvement makes it more intimate and connected among the crowd. But yeah after that I just do what feels good to me. Some crowds feel hopeless and it's hard not to take it personal, but all you can do is all you can do! - DJ SamFX

[@jazzylamel]

in my opinion I wouldn't worry about it, I will turn this into a positive and make it a big listening party. go in and out with Club bangers is smooth blends and just have fun with it. That's really what it's all about.

[@krissymarklewis1793]

Sometimes the crowd just doesn't bite, as long as you play your best set in your own mind you are doing a good job and there is no shame in that.

[@don1mega]

These Melleniuls DON'T DANCE!!! They just want to text all night. Also, if the people are just sitting around talking and texting, CRANK THE SOUND UP a few notches. This UNFORTUNATELY I Think Is the New Trend. I like the 90's crowd the best!

[@edwardmanueliii3726]

don1mega that's it! I really don't think they dance.

[@DJRemzzRazeDJ]

don1mega i never quite understood why do people come to events and be texting?

[@Stewcrew8]

You're so right..I did a party on time and the kids just stayed on their phones thru the entire gig, I even gave away prizes but no participation...

[@popoff7808]

This seems to be true in my experience EXCEPT if the crowd is not just young people. In a crowd of mixed ages with elders leading the way the kids dance awkwardly at times like they could be caught in a bad Instagram shot. It is the duty of us elders to show them the way. Also IMO their music sucks. It's just not as fun to dance to, so they don't dance. But put on Dancing Queen or Hit Me Baby One More Time, Take On Me and if they don't light up.

[@djlocolopez]

This DOES happen on occasion! Another DJ said he played the best set he could and got compliments after, and this is all you can really do. Sometimes the crowd just isn't in the mood to move, but they are still listening. I watch for smiles and lip syncing their favorite songs while sitting or at the bar. That helps.

[@abegomez3369]

Please don't stop producing videos DJ TLM. You are amazing!

[@djTLMtv]

Thanks man!

[@abegomez3369]

You're welcome! Also, I sent you an email regarding your "beatmatching vs dropping it on the one" video. I hope you can reply to it soon :)

[@DJMoBlvd]

That's so true! Happen to me last night. The crowd was not feeling me at all! Haha the only thing they liked was the wobble, Cupid shuffle and the cha cha slide.

[@danh296]

Whats up with last night? Same for me!

[@DJMoBlvd]

DanH29 haha I'm not to sure. Just a off night. Where are you from?

[@theupload120]

Now you should play the song Last Night by P Diddy feat Keyshia Cole "last night couldn't even get a answer"

[@RayWrightRayrite]

+djTLMtv this is good advice. I also think it depends on local tastes too. for me if I see the crowd is not feeling the music I will throw in a hustle (line dance) song. those songs are universally liked and gets a lot of them to move...then follow up with a popular peppy dance song and go from there.

[@DJAUDIO1]

This happens all the time to a lot of DJs. I want to say that even in my residencies, There are nights where crowds just aren't feeling anything. The main thing most DJs have to do is check their ego at the door and stop second guessing themselves. Its easy to get caught up in the whole "This shit is banging, Why aren't they reacting?" Here in America, Many factors come into play... Say the local Basketball team lost the NBA Finals... You think people want to party that night? Nope, but you do your best to make them forget the loss and keep a good positive vibe alive. The most surreal night for me was Election Night. My birthday came at the strike of Midnight, and many Americans made the realization that Donald Trump was the winner. The vibe in the club was negative and people again were not trying to react positive to anything, but we did our best, felt the room out, played all styles and in the end, stayed cool under pressure. You'd be surprised how the sets we believe were our worst are the ones most patrons enjoy the most. One love DJ TLM!

[@MrMikeVillar]

I like to do my research before my gigs, make sure I know the type of crowd thats gonna be there, what they're expecting, etc. (at least to the best of my ability). If you're prepared, and you have faith in your skills, pay attention to the crowd, usually it will all work out in the end. But I've had nights where I just couldn't make the dance floor bounce like usual. The thing is, sometimes you're just gonna have an off night (either your fault, or just a blah crowd). Don't take it out on yourself, just pick yourself up, and evaluate what you could've done better

[@teejaygreene9543]

I forgot to add on my last comment that my name was DJ Cobra t....... I am nowhere near as known as you are but the people in my neighborhood know me as that and I'm getting ready to get back into it....... but I will continue to watch your videos because they are very helpful

[@Skigday]

I had a gig where the host was a hardcore party person but all their friends were not. That was a real fun night of trying to balance between making the crowd happy and making the person paying me happy.

[@hotrizod777]

You can have what I call "Party Warmers". Party warmers are people (usually females) you have or pay to dance all night to assist in making and/or keeping then party live. A lot of times, you don't even have to pay them as long as they can get in the party for free. Definitely have to ask the promoter or host of the party for permission first before inviting party warmers.

[@katerson]

This couldn't have been uploaded at a better time! Had my first "gig" at my Youth Groups Snow Ball Friday just gone and I have my Friends 18th Party tomorrow (Monday!)

[@strife10301]

good luck and congrats on your first gig.

[@ThermAquaGaming]

BNJL How was it??

[@brucenelson3967]

I'm a beginner dj.last year in Dec 2021 I dj at a 60th bday party.I notice the crowd wasn't really dancing nor showing energy while I was djn but soon as I put on some line dance music everyone and their grandma got up and dance so as soon as saw that energy I hit them hard with line dancing by the time I went back to my regular set they was just to tired to dance anymore lol.So it all work out at the end of the party I got booked for 2 more gigs.

[@djTLMtv]

Great!

[@stanleydinkins5112]

TLM is full of correct n accurate advice about his knowledge of a DJ! 👏👏

[@hot4futureyears2come]

Yes this happens often. Basically what he said. You try different things till you get something out if them. By the way. When that does happen. Whatever you pre-plan (playlist) sometimes goes out the window so be ready to jump around your collection and when it does happen still to that and then maybe go back your set but stay at the BPM which work

[@abag0fchips]

Crowds like that are so dull to be a part of. I like to jump around and go "Wooo!" but if nobody else is hype like that then it's just not fun.

[@DJBustovski]

if u can't read the crowd it helps to get on the mic and encourage them to make requests (surprisingly alot of my crowds ask if that's allowed) a request or 2 will help you figure out what they wanna hear.

[@djTLMtv]

+bustovski most DJs don't want requests, but I understand that in certain situations it could actually help you

[@ToastedSesam3]

I guess the first thing you should do before playing is try to read their energy. Observe what they do. First, their body movements. Do they look like they're hyped to dance or are they just still and chill? Next is how they talk with their friends. Are they laughing hard and putting so much energy in their voice or are they just having a normal conversation? And with that, you need to lock in to their energy by choosing the right song with the same energy level as theirs. I know not everyone will have the same energy as the others but just try to weigh it. Once you've locked in to their vibes, from there you can kinda manipulate their energy level. And one more technique is to have a steady set. Meaning every song must compliment the next. Hope this helped!

[@djTLMtv]

+Jae Son Lee i appreciate the input, but I don't know if this approach is always realistic. - if you're the warmup DJ you are playing when the people come in so you don't have time to analyze the crowd because they aren't there yet. - if you're playing a later set you still don't always have the time to come early enough to do this type of crowd research. - if the crowd is not showing any type of energy all the research in the world probably won't help. Some crowd just don't show any emotion 😄 But when you have the time it could be worth it to 'inspect' the crowd before a set

[@andrewdias3097]

I'm a techno DJ, and a gay bar booked me to play the warm up every Friday. I always arrange a nice set of psychedelic techno, nothing too hype, and yesterday the manager comes on stage to say one customer was bored (at 10pm, super early) and proceeds to change the song to a random track in my library. Then he plays a Rihanna song and tells me to finish my set. I didn't even get paid despite bringing in all my coworkers. This is frustrating because they know I don't collect pop tunes, and they asked me to get the resident DJ's library and play those tracks. I feel like this is poor management, because here in Cambodia, techno can be marketed to European customers who will spend a lot on drinks, and catering to your regulars won't bring in different/new groups. The whole situation irritates me a lot, but you gave the best advice which is to keep it cool and finish doing what you do. Not everyone is going to dig it

[@strife10301]

I'm a variety DJ, so I'm always open for suggestions when the crowd ain't feeling it. although if you're in the middle of a mix it can be a little frustrating but I like seeing the crowd enjoy themselves so it's a win-win for me.

[@Thyst1]

Back in 89' I did a gig at Automotive HS with my crew. It was 3 DJs and I was the only Hip Hop DJ so the other 2 were Freestyle and slow jam Dj's. I didn't want to step up or start the set cause the two of my partner Dj's went to that school. The crowd was not feeling either on of them. They kept asking for hip hop and dancehall. My partners asked me to take over and I rocked the whole night while they sat on the side feeling useless. I felt bad too for them but it was a paid gig. We got $35 each that night. Sometimes when you are a team, you gotta delegate.

[@integrity2719]

For me my biggest obstacle is the high school age range. I say that they are the toughest crowd not just because they stream a lot more music than I did obviously growing up, but also because often times the students at the schools want a 21 and up club environment when not only do I not play certain tracks that I don't agree with but also I'm not trying to get fired pleasing them LoL. So I've had some students who understand it and try to vibe out with me but aren't excited because they can't get the track that they want to hear played. Then I have some students who really want to hear a lot of tracks that I feel aren't party tracks, to me, some tracks they ask for sound like a backyard party with yard games, not a dance party environment. I'll also get a group who I finally give them a little bit of what they want without compromising my integrity and they get super excited for just a specific part of the song and then they stand around not knowing what else they should do with the track, smh. LoL. As you can tell high school students (14-18) give me gray hairs hahaha

[@flashanddancedj]

For me since I am a mobile DJ in the USA let's say I'm doing a wedding and I have tried an oldies song, then disco, Motown or even slow dance and none work... What I ever saw had the most people on the dance floor is what I stick to for my go to music that night... doesnt mean I'm going to play 100 tracks from that genre... They might just not be ready or just dont want to dance... I have talked to brides and grooms after a wedding that only 10 people danced for 4 hours... they told me that it was awesome and everyone enjoyed themselfs.. Inside I am saying why did no one dance then... So it happens all over... Make sure to read your crowd and do not come out straight away with the current songs save the. For about an hour into your set unless you are the headliner or ending dj...

[@ricosteez4205]

I was just DJing a Teen party here in St. Louis MO USA last Friday night. It was very different crowd, all they wanted to hear was local rapper bullsh*t. So i mixed some bangers with some local music and just shouted out on the mic that i was taking requests. They were cool about it came up nicely and wrote down what they wanted to hear, and it became a nice turn out.

[@djTLMtv]

+Rico Steez sometimes that might be the beat solution

[@djneedlz]

No doubt, That was some good advice...Plus, sometimes it's hard to read a crowd. Sometimes you can kinda play with them to see what they like. Then you can go from there

[@djTLMtv]

+Dj Needlz yup, that's the 'normal' technique when I don't know the crowd. I'll test them by throwing in different things and then watch their reaction. But sometimes you'll end up with a crowd that just doesn't give you any fredback at all 😂😂

[@georgeclyde7904]

Sir this is on point!! I've played at the same venue for the last 5 years on average 3-4 times a week, so I have had crowds that were "All in" and I've had crowds that seemed disinterested. And when that has happened I do exactly what you said.... I'll genre hop to see if I get anything... but the venue I play at is technically an upscale sports bar and some nights I'm playing before, after and during games so I've learned to be thick skinned. But this definite good advice for any new dj. I know you've mentioned it before but going to the venue beforehand is good, or if it's a party find out as much info as possible about the theme or guest of honor. If you do you due diligence, than you should have more clarity on whether it's "you" or not.

[@enterbalearia9650]

I'm basically a single genre DJ (house) so I struggle in these scenarios sometimes, disco or tribal house usually seems to be the way forward with a difficult crowd though

[@SoHyped97]

Perfect timing for this video! I'm having my first gig this upcoming Wednesday & I don't want to blow it at all. If anybody wants to throw in a couple of tips I'll gladly take them

[@MrTonig12]

I played a Valentines gig (dinner and dance) and I played some bangers at about 10 pm and no once danced. Dance floor was empty and it was really stupid as it was the same time the main course was being served. But after dessert and towards midnight, only a few people were on the dance floor. I was realised that it was a stiff crowd and poeple were wearing formal and ball gowns and high heels - could not wait to get home!

[@djTLMtv]

+Anthony Petersen Yeah, when that's the case your bangers most likely won't have the same impact

[@aconemusic]

Thumbs up. Actually remind me of that one time where one DJ contestant had brought like a bus full. But me I just be there with my mate to support me. I learned a lesson that day. And I think crowdreading was important from that exact moment... Still crowdreading is hard for me at this point.

[@ofaladrian1100]

i'm a wedding planner, i can say if the party only depend on The Dj alone theres always have big chance to fail.. great party come from good coordination and collaboration with all the vendors and every element from the party..

[@rocstarskinnyjeans]

Exactly what you said happened to me before last month😂 Sometimes it gets a little discouraging, and those are the challenges as a DJ. Sometimes you have those nights, every basketball player can't score 30 every game. Speaking of sports, I actually hate DJing at Sports Bars when they still have the Sports games on Tv while people supposed to be dancing, like really dude 10 TV's.The chicks want to dance but the guys want to watch the game, and I really hate competing with that.

[@mangee2203]

Crowd interaction. Either with a mic or something that catches their attention; like stop the music, then they look at you, you smile to them then drop one of your "go-to" tracks (not necessarily a "banger").

[@WalkerB412]

It all depends on the crowd ... some DJs hate this but depending on the event I'll throw on line dances as a last resort ... can never go wrong with them especially at a birthday party or graduation party or wedding... sometimes it could work at a bar...

[@tyronebufkin5117]

I just Dj'ed a mixed dance floor this past weekend. I tested some old school and got them dancing for while but then I lost the floor so I switched to some top 40 bangers and got the floor back for a while but it didn't last. What read from the crowd tells you when to switch up the genre or style of music in a mixed crowd.

[@poisonsky]

Maybe it shouldn't have come as a surprise but when I drop the needle on Barry White: 'Can't get enough of your love Baby' the ladies rush the dance floor. it's a nice slow warmup song that people aren't embarrassed to groove on. I have a theory that people are intimidated to be the first onto the dance floor. Slow grooves, in the 80 BPM range, get people out of their shell. Tracks by The XX seem to magnetize people to the speakers. James Brown and Notorious B.I.G. tracks (anything from Born to Die) rarely fail to get people bring all the girls to the yard ;-)

[@deejaypacman6848]

well I have been doing this work for long time but what I have realize about the crowd depends on some djs and how they misused hit tracks and how they go with it, and the kind of one way style of playing, some hardly don't know how to switch, every dj should know their weak points and strong point and get more ideas from others where they seems to be weak, especially African djs in amsterdam

[@thi.ferreira23]

Nice video ! I really like your videos man ! Thx for the advice ! Keep it up! 😉

[@djTLMtv]

Thanks!

[@richardbarr223]

bad power, bad sounding sound system is one of the biggest problem, sometimes the music will sound 2 harsh or 2 loud no matter how you tune it up but when you play on a sweet sounding sound system no matter what you play you can play the wackiest tunes and the crowd still dance their shoes off. and sometimes rooms dance floors are bad and needs acoustic treatment. these things can sometimes make a crowd not feeling anything you play its a lot of things.

[@shambles698]

Great topic mate. I would say always take a little funk, people can dance to it and it is not too heavy. If all the DJs are playing music with deep bass lines and punchy beats you can stand out a bit with some funk. If everyone else is playing funk, drop a few beats in there to mix it up a little.

[@dreamdjays]

My usual trick with a dead crowd is use requests as my friend. Doesnt work everytime but if I playing a modern chart set and they ask for an 80s track I switch to 80s. In my enviroment it works 95 percent of the time

[@SgtRex-cz2qs]

Thanks for your advice TLM! Your informations always help me.

[@denniswilson9227]

This very thing happened to me last night. The whole night the crowed dance to three or for songs and that was it.I tried everything I could think of, old school, new school, funk, freestyle, reggae and nothing worked. After the function a few people came up to me and were like, good job my brother, really good music. I was dumbfounded, literary. I thought they were maybe being sarcastic.

[@djTLMtv]

It’s weird right? It doesn’t happen often (hopefully), but every now and then you run into a crowd that just doesn’t get hype (even when they like what you do) 😂😂

[@denniswilson9227]

@@djTLMtv I remembered something you said, to not panic stay with your set. If you see a head or two bobbing, then you're ok.

[@lumar_musica]

Sometimes you must get out of the desk and ask to people what they like, that's the last option, even if there's a thousand of people, if one group is dancing with their favorite track, the other groups are gonna be dancing too. That happened to me, it worth it

[@alexzambrano2565]

When I need to boost the energy and liveliness, I go to the cha cha slide or famous dance music which works for all ages

[@shawnbashura]

One of my first solo gigs for my company was an Alcoholics Anonymous "party". Bunch of people playing cards and drinking coffee. The "bangers" were a joke, but they did like music. Not a killer party, but I had complements on my set. (alternative rock night) I've dj'd corporate parties where I've been instructed to "keep it mellow"....(ok.....you could have had an ipod, but whatever) i've had crowds who said "keep it country", then went nuts when i play Shake Ya Tail Feather Crowds are organic

[@edgarayala945]

Sometimes there's nothing you can do about it. I'm mostly a House deejay so in those situations I try to play more "friendly" tracks, depending on the crowd. I try out different styles and see what hits. But sometimes no matter what I try they just don't feel comfortable enough to dance. It's not always you, sometimes it's them.

[@akinkunmicook2977]

Try to get as much informaton about the gig/crowd before you get there. If not possible you'll have to play it like a wedding dj and bring a vast amount of diffrent genres of music! However, don't panic! You still need to pace and trust your gut!

[@djTLMtv]

Truth. You should never panic and also understand that it's not always your fault. You might be doing all the right things and playing all the right tracks, but sometimes people just don't want to 'get loose'.

[@quentinj.500]

It has happened, but you have to mix it up and see what happens. I agree!!!!

[@andrewmartin1984]

love hearing different approaches, i am a house/techno dj only. i guess its pretty different, but many times what i play is expected to be background music, especially at my current residency. if it was a 'dancefloor' environment and no one is moving, i would play deep and chilled and work up in power track by track, every now and then, i would drop a heavier track than the current energy rate observing reactions, if still nothing, i will try inserting a ''recognizable'' or classic track, if still nothing, would just keep progressing my sets power and that should at least not evoke complaints from anyone, including promoters/owners etc. also i feel that mixing in correct keys creates a certain vibe, it sounds less cheesy and more professional. also moving up two keys in the Camelot wheel allows the mix to sound much more energized irrelevant of the tracks, another possible trick. sorry to sound like a know it all, but was just thinking allowed here. thanks again.

[@thedjrob1559]

djTLMtv, My experience in this situation, was to remember that some people are lovers, and if you don't address them they will not get up and they will leave, so SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSLOW IT DDDDDDDDDDDDDDown and get you groove back and party ! JUSTSAYIN! THEDJROB

[@fyah2k5]

I try to get a look at the average age of the crowd and then that kinda helps me to pick the songs that will work and the genre. Sometimes it can be rough though. Just gotta have fun and put energy into your set, get the crowd involved and then might feed off your energy and then the just gets better from there.

[@becooleatpie]

Watching this in Marseille airport on the way to Amsterdam man!!

[@djTLMtv]

Dope!

[@teejaygreene9543]

yo DJ tlm..... I watch your videos all the time and you give very informational stuff..... because of you the DJ equipment that I've had for over 20 years I decided to get back into it now I am trying to come up with the money to upgrade my equipment.... but your comment on this video of what do you do on a dead crowd.... I had a situation where I had a dead crowd also.... and the only thing that I can think of was to pick someone in the party or anyone that was having a birthday and anniversary or some type of Celebration and play the music that they like and everybody would join them and then I pick the music from that..... it worked out beautifully... I don't know if anyone else would do it that way but that works for me

[@andrewgjordeni]

when the dance floor is dead i definitely put the hits of the radio, so they fill the room after I play a couple of these tracks. so this is the 2nd plan of a dj's set, I might need to change diraction on genres and feelings...

[@MrGonzo4000]

Great video my bro....like all your videos...pleas reply if you read this message..I'm a old school DJ from NYC..I WATCH DJ Barrrr.and you.. You guys are great influences for Djs

[@djTLMtv]

Thanks man, I appreciate the message

[@djbabilonarnaldorivera7674]

I start throwing quick transition starting with old skool and continue until I find their sweet spot...alcohol do play a part...if everything fails I play whatever I like

[@torath100]

you the man TLM, always have on point advice. thanks

[@jerzwhite4548]

dope advice appreciate all you do for the culture

[@djTLMtv]

+Jerz White Thanks. I'm just sharing my experience. At the same time I'm learning a lot of new things from you guys as well

[@TheRandallSan]

Love your videos man...had a similar situation last night. Literally dj for 20-30 people last night at a retirement home. It was weird ...mostly 50-60 aged group...didn't expect a crazy reaction right and at the end I got compliments but I'm like "yeah ok ..." sometimes we expect too much and go off our best party and expect every party to be like that? 🤔

[@exe4121]

Hey Dj TLM, guess who just subscribed to you from Hong Kong? Me. Thanks for the advice!

[@hotrizod777]

Also, put most of your focus on what most women would want to hear. They are the ones most likely to dance, and they are the ones most likely to share their opinion about the party and the Dj to their friends and on social media.

[@kjterry33]

Very, very informative.....thank you TLM!

[@MrTigolbiggies]

on point keep up the good work my G #salute

[@MixBeatz911]

sup T, love ur vids, im a learning DJ for a while now but only focusing on learning at this point so i do all my gigs for free, for new years i i played a set which i had tailored cause i already knew my audience 4 the most part it all went great, its gratifying 2 see the crowd pumped dancing singing and complimenting u what i do hate is the constant nagging from diff ppl all these requests, well the requests i dont mind if if they allow me to introduce it properly but some ppp want u to stop ur whole set so u can play their track,...i find impatience to be the most annoying, ppl need to relax and enjoy the music and make the best of the party, anyhow good advice thank u for ur vids always -DJ PTNY

[@MrGoodbye23]

Is this a question that can be asked to a promoter before a gig? If a crowd doesn't react, then one could prepare a full dope set and make it more of a performance for the night.

[@Shortyland05]

In situations like this I make sure I'm approachable for requests, that way from one or two requests I can get a general idea on what type of crowd it is. But if I'm closed off I'll try different genres and different styles.

[@calimangrower1590]

I've come back to the scene after almost a 20 year hiatus you've got these youngsters that will push a sync button and then walk outside to smoke a cigarette take a phone call DJ ing has sure changed.

[@jphi1000]

I live in a place with less than 10 thousand people. The town has an aging population and there is a bunch of my peers (in there 20's) that want to dance and have a good time. If I know what demographic I have it's easier, the older people will dance to Bon Jovi, old rock, and some new country hits. If I DJ for my peers I try to figure out the top hits and what people like. But nothing is scarier than a new crowd and they didn't specify what they wanted

[@Katomusicgroup]

I'm not a DJ yet but I am inspiring to become one but what I would do If ever in this situation is go straight to radio music . Play all the stuff that people know and love because they hear it in there cars 95% of the time and more than likely there going to react to it. I've seen so many times in clubs where the DJ does not react to his crowd and just keeps on playing music that people don't care for and that just makes for a bad night . People tend to want to come to a club and drink more liquior when the club is jumpin

[@jamarlewis5403]

his first problem was starting off with the bangers and hits but I just had a situation at the club I dj at where it was just dead due to the time of year (Christmas) and weather. I didn't sweat it to much but hopefully they start coming in again

[@popoff7808]

Also I find another way to get the crowd involved is play a string of sure fire sing-a-long anthems. Then you have a unified energy at least and maybe you can work with that.

[@popoff7808]

Also depending on the venue I think it is a totally overlooked secret weapon to use the jukebox. I know this doesn't make sense you have brought your own music. But say you start at 10 but are their at 9 don't just let the jukebox play whatever start setting the tone, and more importantly as you set up dance, bop, and groove to some of the stuff you put on the jukebox to warm up the room. And you can often do this with an app so they don't even know it's you. This way it doesn't look like you are all ego dancing to your own songs.

[@AslanAtreyu]

Feels like crap, but it happens to everybody. Thanks for the vid.

[@jdthedj2945]

Man. My first gig was like this. It was a outdoor rooftop frat/sor mixer. It was ment to be for socializing and networking but after drinks if they get turnt up then "lets go". So many different types of people. I did have a advance tip from someone who knew this croud but wasnt there that they may not dance no matter what. The sadiddy type. I played what was asked from the hiree but at one point he came over and got on the mic and they still didnt move. They come up amd request, go back and stand there. I worked so hard cause i thought it was me but they just wasnt. A few did dance off reggae but then stopped. I just made it thru the night

[@DJDRFUNKJUICE]

I'm with this statement but it wasn't a club it was at my last year gig for the expo. So it was a different type of crowd I did with so I learn from that expo event. So I learn a different type of style of crowd but everybody had a good time I got paid in advance so that's my lil experience I like to share and hope real soon I start doin club gigs asap. Funk Up Salute 💓✌

[@djoj4901]

STORY OF MY LIFE!!! As a College bar and club DJ I started off in smaller but fun bars and it would be incredibly hard to pick up their vibe! But whenever I asked how the music was they would say they loved it. So that was when I told myself to listen to my own vibe and set MY vibe for the room. Sometimes as a DJ you have to dictate the vibe and control your audience. Great advice and awesome knowledge. Even though these are old videos I'm still getting great notes. If any of y'all want to come check me out I DJ in Tallahassee Florida at Madison Social, Township TLH, and Café Shisha Hookah Bar!

[@jripzzproduction8934]

I've had situations like this when there is a older crowed and a younger and its very difficult to try and please both lol as what DJ TLM said just play with your gut switch it up there and there and you will get compliments at the end.