Being asked for setlists before DJing?!
Mondeyano
Reykjavik 863 Posts
Check it.I was asked by an acquaintance to DJ this photo exhibition opening thing which I gladly said yes to without any money since he's not making any money off of it anyway.Then all of a sudden he asks me if I can make a setlist for him of all the tracks I was going to play. I explained to him that it wasn't a DJs job (as opposed to a radio DJ) to do it in advance and he was cool about it and understood fully. Case closed, or so I thought.Then I get an e-mail from the co-organizer (a person I've known for a few years) asking me again for a setlist. I restated my reasons for not doing so and said as politely as I could that I wouldn't do it. Through the following few e-mails where I explain my feelings on the subject I get hurled these nuggets:"I am truly sorry to see you being headstrong [...] Once you go into the "real world" [...], your "principle" (that is not DJing to setlists) may bring you results not favorable to you.""All I can say is that you have A LOT TO LEARN"Has this happened to any of you?Major 
Comments
This person needs the go f*ck yourself[/b] greamlin....
And all this for what amounts to someone DONATING THEIR TIME FOR FREEEEE!
I can see how people want an idea about what you are intending to play, but this is crazy.
DJing
The real world
Getting help for free
Tact in social interactions
1. Fear - Let's Have a War (So You Can Go and Die)
I once had a friend tell me about a new bar that was opening up in North Beach. He had me call the owner to talk about djing there for an opening. He didn't have any equipment, just a stereo. He told me I would need to go out and purchase an audio cable long enough to reach the stereo. I would also have to bring all of my equipment. I think it was during the jazz festival and he wanted me to dj for about 8 hours. He asked how much I would charge and I said that since I was bringing my equipment and that it was for that long that I would charge $500, which I thought was actually being generous/fair. He then gave me the "oh, that's a lot more than I anticipated." I told him that it gets really tiring for that long and that it's a hassle to bring the equipment too. He then lectured me about how he works 15 hour days and for me not to tell him anything about getting tired and long work hours. He was being such a dick and so self righteous for a good 3-4 minutes. Lots of "look buddy."
fuck that.
You should just tell them, if you need an exact playlist then I might as well just program your ipod for you and you can push play.
Dear valued champion of the arts,
I appreciate your feedback, but in all fairness, I don't tell you how to channel your maudlin angst into incomprehensible bullshit that nobody gives a fuck about, so please don't tell me how to do my job.
Best regards,
You Suck.
And that it will cost them $150 to do that, per hour of music.
I would go with this. A+
I had someone ask me to do a demo for a wedding recently and I told them that I don't work from a set list rather I read the crowd to see what they are responding to and play to that. They didn't seem to have a problem with that.
just try to never get into the real world of people who do photo exhibitions or other artsy projects where no-one makes any money (or at least not those who do the actual work)
i strongly suggest to answer with cbears words:
well put.
I do a lot of these Gallery gigs. some free, some for very little loot. almost always have to bring my equipment (which blows) but whatareyagonnado? No one has ever asked for a set list, I just tell 'em what style I'm gonna drop and no one ever has a problem with it.
I do get real tired of telling folks about how scratch live works when I use it. I get a lot of "now, how does this work" from people.
It looks like I might end up not doing it because of the co-organizer (who wrote me that shit). Which is a bit of a shame since the person that asked me to do this initially is a stand up dude who only asked me to do the setlist initially at the request of the other organizer.
Pretty Much
You do you man,if they can't deal with that..then they ain't got no party.
Microwave has created a whole new range
of confused on lookers. as if
"they still make them rakerds?" wasn't
bad enough...
01. Intro
02. The Bees - ID (From Malaysia)
03. Les Lutins - La Junglomanie (1968)
04. Impala Syndrome - Love Grows A Flower (1969)
05.
06.
07.
08.
09.
10. Baris Manco - G??n??l Dagi (1972)
11.
12. San Ul Lim - My Soul Lies On Silk (1978)
13. Arik Einstein - Ani Ve'Ata (You And I)
14.
15.
16.
G[/b]rupo Cruela ??? Nada Nos Detendra
O[/b]s Brazoes ??? Tao Longe De Mim
F[/b]orever Amber ??? The Dream Flies Back
U[/b]gly Ducklings - Gaslight
C[/b]obras ??? Instant Heartache
K[/b]it and the Outlaws ??? Don???t Tread on Me
Y[/b]uya Uchida & The Flowers ??? Greasy Heart
O[/b]men ??? Once Upon A Taste
U[/b]c Hurel-Hurel Arsivi ??? Aglarsa Anam Aglar
R[/b]iddles ??? It???s One Thing
S[/b]aharas ??? They Play It Wild
E[/b]quals ??? My Life Ain???t Easy
L[/b]arry & The Blue Notes ??? Night of The Phantom
F[/b]entones ??? Simla Beat Theme
![/b]!! ??? Pardon My Freedom
My response would be:
"You're asking a lot of me considering I'm doing this for free. Sorry, but I think given you're condescending attitude you should look for a free DJ elsewhere. If you still want to avail yourself of my services I will be charging for them."
I don't see why you people waste so much time on shit like this.
I'm guessing because it's fun and we're bored at work.
This is just straight disrespectful. Do they forget you're doing this FOR FREE?
I wouldn't even bother if I were you. Let him think whatever.
A while ago I was asked to DJ at this new trendy Japanese restaurant downtown playing lounge/downtempo etc. from 9 til midnight. They offered me a good amount of money and it was a block away from my other gig that started at 12 so it worked out perfect. I offered to give them a CD, but they wanted me to "audition" which meant bringing all the equipment down and playing for the owner and some other people. I eventually said ok, get down there and set up, and only one person shows up.
He puts his cell phone to the speaker for a minute while I'm DJing and then hands me the the phone. Some dickhead is on the line asking me what I play and if I could make him a CD and drop it off the next day. I told him I'd see what I could do, packed up my stuff and went home. Then I called and told them thanks but no thanks.
Sometimes shit isn't worth the hassle. People need to show you some respect from the jump otherwise what do you think your relationship working with them will be?
this is sounding worse and worse! will you also have a giant clock behind you so they can tell where you are in your set? how are they supposed to match the track to the list?
can we see the photos online anywhere?
did you ask him if he stands in the same 3 foot area for 15 hours a day?
if this was a wedding i could understand supplying a small set list so they get the idea of what you'd play, but these fools i would tell to find someone else. they obviously have no idea how this thing works and its hilarious that they thing this will hurt you in "the real world." if they don't trust someone to do what they do then the ipod solution is thier only option. gbh said it best.
How could this have been avoided with this organizer though? When people come at you with these idiotic needs before you lose your patience and refuse flatly you have to either overexplain yourself or pull one of these act like you know movements and hope it doesn't blow up in your face......