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Forum: General Discussion

Topic: Needing a little help

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Right this is the situation, I normally only do weddings but I've started to get a lot of requests for children's parties, I have booked a couple up and they are shorter which means the rate is better. The only issue I have is that I've never done this sort of gig before, the first one is for a bunch of 13 year olds. I'm just looking for some guide lines because I have no idea what sort of music they would be into.

I few ideas would be helpful

:)
 
Posted Fri 30 Aug 13 @ 2:23 pm
The best thing I can tell you is, make sure you have the radio versions of any song you plan to play. Nothing worse than a pissed off mom yelling at you because little Johnny heard the "f" word in a song. After that, it depends on the group. I would make up a "music information" form and give it to the hosts of the party to be returned to you about two weeks before the event. On this sheet, I would have a place for requests, and a place for what they would like you to avoid.
 
They will most likely want an "adult" type party, ie chart and party that you would normally cater for anyway, on your part your gonna have to be more than patient because everyone is going to want to be your friend.

Don't lose your cool when they eventually become a massive pain and remember the adults will more than likely be checking on you in the corner of their eye just to make sure you don't end up smacking one of their little darlings in the mouth or giving them a bit verbal.. lol

Have a good un'
 
As a father of an almost 12 year old girl I can tell you that they mainly listen to top 40/Radio music. Yes make sure they are the edited version and they don't care for remixes. I don't think they know much music earlier than about 2007ish. Unless of course it's popular enough that it still get's played on the radio here and there. That beeing said you can also play the occasional popular classics or pop music from the 80's and 90's. They will recongnize some songs from listening to their parents music while they are in the car;)
 
Backing up what's already been said, all the latest chart music. Anything from the current top 40.

Some of them do know older songs, but wait until they ask for it rather than trying to figure any out yourself.

Keep each song short, because at that age they won't be that much into dancing. Ergo, don't worry if they don't dance to everything. As long as you can see feet tapping and mouths singing, you're playing the right stuff. They usually know all the words.

They tend to know dance routines and do them together (especially the girls) so if a song has a dance then it'll usually go down well.

Don't be afraid to play things more than once either. I've even been asked to play a song again straight after it's finished!

As for swearing in songs, some of the stuff they ask for will probably have swear words in - but play clean versions.

The last childrens gig I did, I even created clean edits myself before the event because I couldn't find any official ones.
 
Thanks to all for you responses its giving me a lot to think about, the message on the explicit tracks is good advice I will run a clean playlist and I'm guessing top 40 plus 2009 to present should do it. I think I will run some request sheets to to keep em busy maybe I could try and run a dance off boys vs girls do you think that would work? If I offer a prize maybe.

I love the comment about them turning into a pain throughout the night and I've had some dealings with this at previous gigs but not on as larger scale so I think it will be a test, and I better make sure my dj guard insurence is up to date lol.

Thank you all

:)
 
Be careful because a clean edit could still say bitch and ass. You will need a super clean edit, they are available. I also joined the School Dance Network, and they do all the work for me, by sending me clean list, and what not to play. Get a table at least six feet away from you, put a bunch of post it pads with pens on it, for request. Let them know that they can write their request down, and leave them there. I also use a white art or foam board, so they can stick them there. I do not want to talk to them, it's non stop. This has saved me from child abuse charges. You will need every Justin Bieber, R5, One Direction, and any other teen or singalong group. Play the whole song because they want to sing, unless you are a great mixer. It's not always the words, but the innuendo, that's worst. They will ask for I'm sexy and I know it, ask one parent to ask the other parents, or say you don't have it. The girls will dance or not, don't sweat it. They love lights. Premium Membership comes in handy. We can't stop by Miley Cyrus, may not be a good choice, right now. Good luck.
 
Thank you:

I'm going to take a helper to deall with the little monkeys I think this would be the best thing to do and set up some sort of barrier between me the gear and them. I will do aload of request sheets to hand out to this should keep em busy for a bit.

All comments have been helpful and if you can think of anything else that would help do let us know.

:)
 
Hey can anyone help? Is there a way to find the clean versions on the contnent unlimited? I see several versions of the song, but no label that says clean?
Thanks
 
I can't speak for the Video plan inside VDJ, but VJPro (the supplier to the video plan) puts "clean" or "dirty" in the song title. So you could try to sign up and give it a try. I really think that is your only reliable shot. Either that or just buy directly from them in the first place, I know that will give you what you want.
 


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