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LIKE PULLING TEETH TO GET 'EM 2 DANCE!

N

nightfly61

Guest
I know this should probably be in the "Off Air" room, but I figured more CHR jocks that may work in clubs hang out here...anyway...
I work in a large bar in a hick town that is known for having rock bands on weekends but business has been slow & the owner has cut out bands all but maybe once or twice a month. When the bands would take breaks I had better luck getting people to dance because it was more refreshing than hearing "Highway Song" or something of the like from the band...
Well now...the owner wants me to play all dance music & thinks it will just flip the place into a dance club just like that. I keep up on & have everything new but rarely get to play any of it because they'll only dance to "Play That Funky Music" or request "Brick House" or Sweet Home Alabama. I usually just end up playing what they request 'til the place clears out & we close up early- or we may get lucky & get a bachelorette party in for 1/2 hour or so & request the usual "Low" or pole dance tunes. ??? Any suggestions? Thanks!
 
Usually in those types of settings this is a typical scenerio. You have a couple of ways to go. The first is to cater to the crowd that currently shows up and play the requests while exposing them to some of the more mainstream dance tracks and remixes hoping that they'll get it. Or you have to become a promoter, or hire one, that can put together a crowd of people that like their dance music a bit more progressive than what's hot at the Holiday Inn.

You can also work things like MySpace which allows you to do a search for people within a Zip Code and by Age. Make an e-flyer and send it to your new group of "Friends". Most won't show but if you impress those that do things will start to snowball.

If your area has a college nearby go to the sorority houses and try to book a monthly party with them at your bar. They'll do the leg work and let them collect a couple of bucks at the door for all the work they'll do for you. As the word spreads, your place can become the new local hot spot. ;)

jp
 
lalumia said:
2 words for this situation,pal...Hip Pop(Beyonce, Mary J,Ciara,etc)
Click to expand...
Been there & do that. Usually mixed in with requests like Crazy Bi*ch, the same old AC/DC or "Play some Skynyrd, man!".
 
the owner of a bar in a hick town that plays all dance will be the owner of a foreclosed bar ,unless the all dance is 70s disco and 80s new wave;people in a hick town aren't likely to get guetta until he's on their hick top 40 chr station,which is even less likely to happen
 
Been there.
You will have to rely on songs played on the local top 40 radio.
You can sneak a track here and there while mixing in bits and pieces of You Shook Me or Living On A Prayer.
Or- what I eventually did- I quit.
 
Thanks y'all...can't quit there though...make more in 4 hours there than an entire week at the station I was just canned from...Just seein' if there's anyone in the same perdicament out there & if the jock could single handedly turn it around.... Thanks!
 
seein' if there's anyone in the same perdicament out there & if the jock could single handedly turn it around.... Thanks!
you can't make the people know what they don't know(not in a bar, anyway) and you can't make the people like what they don't like(in a bar, at radio, or anywhere else)
 
Nightfly - I read your question, and knew it was finally time to create a login and reply.

The first thing that you need to realize is that you work for the owner of the club. You can make decisions, but remember he is ultimately the one in control. He has a lot of money at stake. If the place gets a bad reputation, you might be out of job, but he loses a business

Next, the owner is also your co-worker. You need to discuss with him what the 'real plans' are. Communication is key, and a sit-down might be in order. When he says he wants dance music, what does he mean. Does he want the 70s? If so, is it disco, or funk? Is it the 80s? 90s? Remixes of the pop acts? or harder stuff? Dance is divided into sub-genres, and you need to ask him what he wants.

You say the bar "is known for having rock bands". Did you tell this to the owner? Is he aware that these rock people who enjoy "Sweet Home Alabama", during the break. These people do not want to hear a rock band, and then have Cascada thrown at them. They don't want to learn dance music. (Although I'm sure you and many others would love to convert them)

Now if the owner wants a dance club, let's say pop-mixes or slightly heavier in the terms of "insert your favorite DJ", then he needs to know that he is risking losing all of his rock fans, and core crowd. That's ok, if he wants to turn the place around and take a risk on dance.

Since you are concerned with your future, and job, you need to talk to the owner. Get a game plan, and then you can chose the music.

As for requests, they are your worst enemy. The drunk person might have a song they want to hear, but it's you that is DJ. You should know how to read a dance floor, and know what they want. The owner hired you, and believes you are capable of deciding the music. To those requesting 'unrelated' songs, you tell them that the owner wants the kind of music you are playing. This way they don't get angry when their song doesn't get played.

Good luck to you!
 
Oh my.....Chrles....Where do you find this stuff... They are getting pretty ridiculous with these Mashups lately. Anyone with half a brain can create one in about a half an hour.
 
As a DJ, you have to learn to say "no" to requests out of the format. If for example, Pulse87 played Sweet Home Alabama, I would change the station even though I like that song, because I'm probably not in the mood for rock. Maybe you can gradually phase out the rock by playing rock-based CHR, then rhythmic CHR, and then mix a few dance tracks in the CHR mix, then full blown dance. I do an all-dance show on the radio, and DJ college parties. You have to know how to attract the audience that will like your format. Word will get around to the dance fans that your bar is the only place to hear dance music (till the CHR in town flips to dance). If you're there more than one night a week, you could have "rock night" and "dance night". How did Love Is Gone get to #1 on Power 96? How did Everytime We Touch climb the CHR charts? It all started with a few drunk people who first heard the song in a bar or club, then fell in love with the song.
Maybe the bar could sell CDs of your mixes to make some extra money and give dance music a greater exposure. Instead of having rock bands, have guest DJs.
 
Nick said:
Maybe the bar could sell CDs of your mixes to make some extra money and give dance music a greater exposure. Instead of having rock bands, have guest DJs.
Click to expand...

And maybe you shouldn't unless you wish to open yourself up to a lawsuit. ;)

Selling mix cd's is illegal and a felony in most states.

jp
 
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