Showing posts with label Dance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dance. Show all posts

Monday, February 13, 2012

The Top DJ Tips, Tricks and Advice for Club DJing and Making People Dance


Here's my multi steroid booster, magic bullet little blue pill designed to make you perform like the best hot list of 6 key DJ tips:

1. Be the Master of your equipment

Don't think you'll somehow get by without enough practice.

You may not want to hear it but you'll need to know your DJ gear inside out and like a real pro.

Read the manuals, look up the best video tutorials, practices and advice on how to use it and try some little tricks with it yourself in the weeks and days leading up to events.

Develop your own little techniques and wizardry. Take it to the max.

Be the geek who knows all about how to make the most of your gear.

Make sure it's 100% reliable and carry out all the maintenance checks you'll need. Take a back up solution if you can.

Back up gear

For example: if you have no back up for your laptop, burn some tunes onto CDs. At least if your laptop crashes you'll be able to play from them.

Know exactly how everything works. Be relaxed with it. This'll free you to think about other things, such as..

2. Know your music

Knowing exactly what tunes you've got in the bag, case or on your hard drive is a huge bonus.

Knowing when to play the right tunes and who to play it to is just as important.

A deejay who cannot perform should either not be playing or has forgotten to check through his or her music recently.

Check my pro DJ tips on knowing all about your music.

3. Watch the crowd

Now, you can master your DJ equipment perfectly well.

You have the best tunes in town.

But if you're not paying attention to the heart and soul of the party, then none of that matters.

A real pro will be watching the crowd every few seconds.

He or she won't be just looking up every ten minutes, they'll be feeling the dancefloor out, connecting with them.

A top deejay won't be so immersed in their mix that they can't look up. They are comfortable enough with their mixing techniques that they can afford to check out who's dancing, who's going crazy and they'll see if people start to sidle off the dancefloor.

Reading reactions

You'll be able to gauge people's reactions. Maybe they're happy, drunk, drugged up, boys or girls, black, brown, white.

All of this is important when deciding how to react by choosing your next tune.

It's the intuitive part of DJing and it's why some make it and others don't.

Luckily you can find out much more about DJ Tips to read the club dancefloor.

4. Look great when DJing

Like it or not, how you look is part of your image and impact.

Some people even prefer a good looking guy or girl to someone who puts on the best tunes.

No really, it's true.

Ask your image conscious friends some tips on how to dress and adapt to the venue you're playing at.

People will relate better to you if you at least make an effort.

I'm not saying you have to look like Brangelina, but be smart, adapt and make the most of what you have.

When I say adapt, I mean that you'll need to know about the people who hang out there and they'll react better to you if they relate to your image.

You'll go further if you do that.

5. Don't get distracted from your set

It's all to easy for the weak willed boys amongst us to get distracted by a hot gorgeous girl coming up to the booth with a flirtatious smile and asking for Lady Gaga right this minute, because it's her birthday, she says. Be respectful, but remain in charge Be polite, but don't get distracted. Speaking to her is not more important than getting your mix right. Now, maybe it's just me but people always seem to ask me for stuff right when I'm lining up a tune and I need to concentrate. I just ignore them until I'm set and satisfied. Then I'll answer them, quickly. Remember your priorities Don't let them distract you from your set. Listen, be nice, but they can't change the course of a night that's going so well. The priority is your set. You need to remember that before some big breasted dolly puts you off. If you find that you have difficulties with saying no to requests then see exactly how best to handle them with my tips on dealing with booth requests.

6. Play the music they want and not what you want

Now let's get this straight.

While it's hard not to think this is all about you, numero uno, number one son of a gun and the king of the booth, it isn't. I know I just said you shouldn't get distracted by hotties asking you for music, leave that until the end. One of the best DJ tips is for you to pay attention to the whole crowd, not just one person asking for Lady Gaga. You see, people are there to have a good time and very few of them will actually be looking at and wondering about how cool the deejay actually is. It feels grand to lay down tunes that make people dance from a club booth, but you're here to make people dance. You're not playing to jerk yourself off in a booth. The more people that dance, the more successful the night will be and the more chance you have of getting bigger and better paid future gigs. So it's up to you to adapt to the crowd and not the other way around. The above DJ tips should help you play your set better, get invited back for more gigs and rock the dance floor.




This article and many more other DJ tips, advice and a free guide to getting DJ gigs can be found at The Total DJ Blog




Thursday, February 9, 2012

How to DJ Like a Pro - Learn to Read the Crowd and Whip Up a Dance Floor Frenzy


Tune into the crowd. They can feel it when you can. When your heart beats faster and you're excited, they can feel it too. No one knows exactly why, they just can. The key point is, it AIN'T SCIENCE! We don't understand everything in this world. We can only try to feel what we can't understand.

When you whip up the floor, the energy bounces off the crowd back to you and then you bounce it right back. Some people have the natural ability to tune in, others take longer but get it eventually. It's like you're dancing with the audience, reacting to each other's movements.

Reading their vibes and picking up their signals is the first part, knowing how to react is the second part. What's that girl who's dancing away doing? Can you follow up this tune with something even better?

Here are the top tips for reading and reacting to crowds:

1. Pay attention to their reactions

When you play out, you'll have to pay a fair amount of attention to your mix and your choice of music. However, just as importantly, remember to watch your crowd and to try to read their reactions too. By this I mean taking regular looks at your punters, feeling the atmosphere and adapting your music to it. Do you have more girls than boys? Do they look more bling, more rave or more indie? When you try out that new electro tune do they start smiling and perking up, some of them jigging a bit? If so, try more of that style.

The way people react to different styles you try on them is key to knowing what musical path to follow. This doesn't mean following every request every drunk girl makes to play Abba or Whitney Houston, but it does mean that you're playing for the crowd and you should play what they want, not what you want. You're not DJing for yourself.

2. Know your musical styles

Pretty obvious you may say. Not really in fact, you'd be surprised. The best DJs have a wealth of different styles and a back up for anything that may not go as planned. That is to say, do not turn up with just a single musical style in your repertoire. Don't play house and have nothing else to play when you've been asked to play in a place where house clearly doesn't go down well. Experiment with other styles and when you get a positive reaction, it means you're on the path to a better night.

If you're playing in an indie place, don't play techno. You'll get ideas from the look of the people about their musical tastes. Get into the habit of guessing what music people enjoy and trying it out on them. Of course, this all comes down to knowing your music well enough, which you can read our tips on right here.

3. Check out the venue beforehand

When it's possible, check out a venue you've been asked to play in. Visualize yourself behind the decks. See what kind of people hang out there and spend time having a drink, maybe talking to people. Make friends with and chat to the bar staff and bar owners. Bar staff occasionally display a surprisingly good knowledge of music due to the numerous DJs they get to see and hear and the reactions they observe to them. They can also tell you what kind of crowd will be in the night you are programmed to play on.

Get the feeling and vibe of the crowd, see what music they dance to. For DJs who are travelling to another city to play where they've never played before, this obviously doesn't apply. In this case, it's better to talk to the promoter or club owner on what kind of style should go down well.

4. Girls or boys?

Check the girls and the boys carefully when DJing, especially the girls. Why? Because when the girls dance the boys follow. You know how it is. The main hot tip here is get the girls to dance. They lead the dancing, the boys do too, that means (nearly) everyone is dancing. For some reason, it's nicer when girls dance, it gives off a more positive vibe.

So when you get to that point in the night when you have to get people moving (if you're playing in a club or party) then think of the ladies. They tend to favour lighter music with more emotion and with vocals as opposed to harder tunes.

5. Be ready to play outside your circle

If you followed our precious advice on knowing your music for DJing, then you'll be up on this. That means you have everything in your collection, even cheese. "But I don't play cheese" you protest. You don't have to play cheese. You do have to be ready to go outside your realm and play music that you may not like.

I once turned up at a club in Paris and the owner was pretty sure about what he wanted. He explained right away that he wanted well known, accessible tunes. He didn't care for the latest cool Simian Mobile Disco remix and such, he wanted favourites.

Now I didn't do exactly what he wanted, I gave the night my own twist. That meant that I played some cheese, but I used that cheese to get people on my wavelength. At that point, we established a rapport because they knew that the DJ understood what they liked, so they opened out.

Dropping the odd cheese bomb was fine by me, after all, everyone danced in there. Once they got going, they were more receptive to other, different tunes which I could happily drop, confident that they'd continue dancing. Guess what? I got asked back there several times and the owner really insisted I play again. Unfortunately I couldn't make it though as I had other gigs lined up.

The message is: dare to play music you don't particularly like when you're DJing as well. The important thing is that people are happy and dance.

Having the will power to be able do this will get you a better reputation and improved gigs. Who cares if on occasions you drop a cheese bomb, it won't be like that all the time. Remember, it's about what they like, not just about what you like.

6. React to them

When you've been struggling for a bit and people aren't really dancing to what you put on only then they suddenly go unexpectedly crazy to your next tune, make sure you react to them accordingly. When the dancefloor bursts into life, that's a sure sign the last tune you played is right up their street. That means the next tune you play should be a reaction to that; you have to try to keep them on the floor now for as long as you can. Not always easy, but you can do it.

Follow up that last rooflifter with another tune which is in some way similar to the previous one. Not identical, but similar in some aspect, whether it's the style, the energy, the BPM or the key. Give your set some shape and flow and take your people on a musical journey of enjoyment. One last important thing: Have some FUN!




http://www.challands.com

Written by pro and experienced DJs who've been there and done that, at Total DJ, you'll learn how to DJ, how to become a DJ, find out which is the best DJ equipment and gear for you, get tips on knowing your music, finding the best tunes, learning how to mix properly and of course, how to best promote yourself.

Ooh I say. Let's go to Total DJ for some proper entertainment shall we?
http://www.challands.com




Wednesday, February 1, 2012

DJ Equipments To Rock The Dance Floor


Do you know what is the key to becoming a successful DJ? Well it is the ability to produce great music mixes that bring the dance floor alive. And in order to create the right kind of music you have to invest in a range of advanced DJ equipments.

If you are just a beginner to the world of mixing and turntables, you are most likely awestruck by the well-established disc jockeys that have the ability to set the floor ablaze with their highly energetic music mixes. OK so you may not have the same range of talents as these DJs, but you can make up for your lack of experience or talent with the right kind of DJ equipments. Next time you visit a night club or disco, just make a trip backstage to check out the DJ equipments, and you will be amazed at the wide range of DJ equipments that are used to churn out those masterful mixes. Although, a novice in the field requires some time and practice on the turntable to somewhat master it, there are other DJ equipments that are not as difficult to learn. And as you advance as a DJ, these equipments will help you to create better music. As in any business you have to make some initial investment in this world of music mixing, as DJ equipments are the basic tools to give you a head start in this trade.

As a DJ, you can manipulate the equipments in a number of different ways. Not only can you rock the dance floor with beats and rhythms, you can also synchronize the music smoothly from one track to the next.

As a DJ, your goal is to make the crowd come to its feet and rock all through the night. At the same time you have to keep the energy level of the dance floor at a point that it can sustain over a longer stretch of time. You have to maintain a musical consistency throughout. As a DJ it is in your hand to keep the tempo alive without annoying a portion of the crowd.

To accomplish all these goals, DJs must be well versed in the advanced technological features of their DJ equipments. You need to be really familiar with your instruments like the back of your hands to use them to their fullest potential.

In the end, it is your skill as a DJ that will be appreciated by both the crowd uninitiated in the art of DJing, and also by those who do have some idea about the workings of a DJ. So make the best use of your DJ equipments and enjoy the wide appreciation from the audience for making them rock and roll throughout the night.




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Monday, January 23, 2012

Sound System Rental - Exciting Sound Enhancements You Could Use In A Dance Party Setting


When you are putting together a dance party and are compelled for one reason or another to use sound system rental, there are several options that you can add to your rental that can significantly enhance the overall experience of the participants and can make your dance party an even greater success.

What makes a dance party memorable should have the components of unexpected, participatory, and emotional. The unexpected sound enhancements will catch the audience's attention. Audience's participation makes the event much more memorable, and, depending on what happens, also quite emotional.

When picking music system rentals, especially speaker rentals, it will behoove you to know what options you will have to choose from.

We will first go over the must-have sound components for a dance party, and then mention the possible optional extensions which enhance the unexpected components, participatory components, and emotional components of your audio visual equipment rental.

Must-have components of a sound system rental

These are the bare minimum components of a portable sound system for a good sound experience when throwing a dance party:


A pair of powered heavy duty speakers with the 800 Watt to 1500 Watt maximal power load. The speakers must come with high enough speaker stands for maximum sound clarity and range.
A minimum of four-channel mixer to allow mixing of iPod, turntable, CD, and microphone sounds. You want to avoid long pauses between songs, and want to be ready to bring on the music that will get people back to the dance floor.
The sound sources of choice, the iPod or an MP3 player, one or more CD players, and at least one microphone.

Sound enhancements to your DJ rental equipment to spice up your dance party

This is the additional audio video, AV rental equipment that, when used in moderation, can significantly enhance the sound itself, and make for a more memorable dance experience:


DJ machines, including DJ turntables, DJ CD turntables, and DJ MP3 turntables. Depending on your DJing skills, these could add significantly to the experience for dance parties. At a bare minimum, experience with mixing the music inputs will be very valuable.
Karaoke machines, could be valuable for certain parties
A multi channel mixer with digital effects, such as vocal reverb can add a new dimension and can enhance singers sound, when used sparingly.
One or two additional, wired or wireless microphones
A fog machine with sufficient fog supply. Works best in a dark, environment with a light show.
Tekno bubbles, a blacklight sensitive UV bubbles, they glow in the dark when shone on by the black light.

If you implement just a few of these additional sound enhancements in your dance party, you will likely find that people will come back to you after the event and thank you for a job well done. Your enhanced AV rental equipment will be well worth the money spent.




For additional info on speaker rental enhancements, you can check out DJ equipment rental.




Sunday, January 15, 2012

Top 100 Salsa Dance Songs - A Dancer's Perspective (Part I)


When it comes to pleasing the dancers, you need to play the top 100 salsa dance songs. But, what are they and who decides what the top 100 salsa dance songs are?

That is a question that many salsa DJs have pondered, when trying to play the top 100 salsa dance songs for their audience. There's just such a wide variety in styles, speeds, singers and songs that makes choosing a hand full (or even the one to play next) such a dilemma. A good DJ always finds a way to please the majority, though. On the other hand, a novice DJ, who doesn't have the skill level, knowledge or has ever been a true, dance to the meaning of the song and music, salsero... well, a disaster is an understatement.

There have been times, when I have had a PARTICULARLY hard day and I'm so stressed out! I go to the salsa clubs, in hopes of hearing some of the top 100 salsa dance songs that will transform my stress to joy. Some DJs, from the first note/beat just manage to truly perform miracles, by playing songs that are not only fun to listen to, but exiting to dance. The blood starts circulating and yet there's a chill in your spine. The feet start moving... and no matter how aware of people staring at you, that you are, you just can't help but move your feet (and get lost in that rhythm!).

Then, there are those DJs that don't understand the music or the words, much less the meaning or feeling , of the songs. The kind of DJs that either play the same songs over and over, in the same sequence even, every time they DJ at an event/club. OR even worse, the kind that seems like they just stopped at the local Starbucks, saw a salsa CD in between the Frank Sinatra and the Yoga Relaxation Jazz CDs and decided... "sounds good, I'll play that all night".

As an "Old Style" salsa dancer, whom understands what the singer is singing (and his "soneos" [improvisations]), that stuff just totally turns my salsa joy dial, almost, all the way down, as disappointment sets in, longing to hear any of the top 100 salsa dance songs instead.

What you will find, below, is a list I have compiled of the top 100 salsa dance songs that are being played by DJs all over the world. It is a compilation of the most common songs found on DJ website and articles from all over the world. I spent 2 months researching, asking questions and listening to each song to prove it's validity (It started as a list of 500; but I've taken out all Cha-cha's and some Merengues that sneaked their way in). I also broke the list down to 5 top 100 salsa dance songs lists. KEEP in mind, there are many more than these top 100 salsa dance songs out there; These are just THE ones, DJs all over the world have chosen (to post, at least), according to my research; plus a few of my own, that I play when DJing. Also, they are in alphabetical order and NOT in order of popularity or dance-ability. If you would like to submit YOUR top songs for consideration for this list, leave us a comment with your suggestions.

Here's the top 100 salsa dance songs...

|Name| Artist| Album| Duration|

|1-800- Quiereme| Luisito Rosario| Rumba Del Barrio| 4:06|

|1-800-Quiereme ( Remix)| Luisito Rosario| Rumba Del Barrio| 5:02|

|A Bailar Pa' Dentro| Orquesta La Solucion| Pa' Bailar| 4:23|

|A Cali| Conjunto Clásico| Felicitaciones| 3:16|

|A Él| Oscar D'León| Éxitos De Con La Critica| 3:47|

|A Golpe De Folklore| Grupo Niche| A Golpe De Folklore| 4:59|

|A Gozar| José Alberto "El Canario"| Sueno Contigo| 3:34|

|A la hora que me Llamen Voy| Candido Fabre| 4:30|

|A La Hora Que Me Llamen Voy| José Alberto "El Canario"| On Time| 5:11|

|A La Memoria Del Muerto| Fruko y Sus Tesos| 4:22|

|A Mi Me Huele| Orquesta Mulenze| Salsa Fiesta!| 4:11|

|A Mi Suegro (Don Pedrito)| Various Artists| Coleccion Estelar De Salsa Dura| 3:55|

|Acere Bongo| Tipica 73 | 4:36|

|Avisale a mi Contrario| Grupo Mandinga| Back to the 70's| 4:13|

|Aguzate| Louie Ramirez- Ray De La Paz| Sabor Con Clase| 6:06|

|Ajiaco Caliente| Eddie Palmieri| Mozambique| 5:38|

|El Amor| Alex leon| Salsa Caleta| 5:06|

|Amor Callejero| The Latin Brothers| Best of the Latin Brothers| 4:51|

|Arrepentios Pecadores| Willie Rosario| Back To The Future / 40 Aniversario| 4:31|

|Arrepientete| Orquesta Broadway| Salsa Fiesta!| 4:01|

|Arrepientete| Ray Barretto| At His Best| 5:14|

|Arroz Con Manteca| Oscar D'Leon| Con La Dimension Latina| 4:00|

|asi me gustas gordita| cesar nicolas| lo mejor de lo mejor| 4:00|

|Asi Soy Yo (That's How I Am)| Larry Harlow| Asi Soy Yo| 5:42|

|Así No Se Quiere a Nadie| Tipica 73| 3:52|

|Ataca de Nuevo| Joe Cuba Sextette| Cocinando La Salsa| 3:25|

|Atízame El Fogón| Willie Rosario| Oro Salsero - 20 Éxitos| 5:07|

|Atrevida| REY RODRIGUEZ| En El Sonido De Hoy Vol 1| 4:38|

|Aunque Me Llores| Raphy Leavitt| Oro Salsero 20 Exitos Vol 2| 4:52|

|Ave Maria Lola| Sonora Carruseles| Heavy Salsa| 4:08|

|Avisale a Mi Contrario| Orquesta Tabaco y Ron| Salsa de Verdad| 7:14|

|Ay Caray| Adalberto Santiago| Popeye El Marino| 5:31|

|azucar Pa Un Amargao| Oscar D'Leon| Con La Dimension Latina| 2:54|

|Babaila| Soneros del Barrio| Siguiendo La Tradicion| 4:41|

|Babarabatiri| Tito Puente| Live At Birdland-Dancemania '98| 8:29|

|Baila Que Baila| José "El Canario" Alberto| Serie Cristal: Greatest Hits| 4:48|

|Ban Ban| Joe Arroyo| Grandes Exitos, Vol. 2| 3:12|

|Banderita (A Little Flag)| Larry Harlow| Asi Soy Yo| 5:36|

|Bandolera| Héctor Lavoe| Comedia| 9:34|

|Bar Y Copas| Various Artists| Salsakidd's Salsa Mix| 4:17|

|Barrio Negro| Sensual 990| Ultra Mix The Best Of Salsa Tropical Dance| 5:34|

|Barrunto| Willie Colón| The Big Break - La Gran Fuga| 5:37|

|Bembelequa| Celia Cruz| Irrepetible| 4:55|

|Beso Gitano| Colombia Te Canta Ii| Colombia Te Canta II| 5:14|

|Beunaventura Tiene Ricura| Orquesta Guayacan| Guayacan Y Del Bueno| 5:19|

|Blanco y Negro| Joe Arroyo| 20th Anniversary| 5:03|

|Boca Mentirosa| Andy Montañez| Oro Salsero| 4:44|

|Boricua Rumbero Salsero| adalberto santiago| salsa gorda| 4:05|

|Bravo Rumbero| Alfredo Naranjo y El Guajeo| A Las 6 Es La Cita| 3:28|

|Buena Ventura y Caney| Grupo Niche| Historia Music, Vol. 1| 6:19|

|Buenaventura Llego La Hora| Huber Angel| Gózame| 4:18|

|Busca El Ritmo| Willie Rosario| Oro Salsero - 20 Éxitos| 5:35|

|Buscando Un Amor| Orq. Matecana/Orq. Guayacan| Serie Batalla| 4:22|

|Busco Lo Tuyo| Fania All-Stars| Fania All-Stars "Live" June 11, 1994| 7:01|

|Busco Olvidarte| Willie Rosario| Back To The Future / 40 Aniversario| 4:35|

|Cachondea| Fruko & Sus Tesos| Fruko Y Sus Tesos - Power Salsa| 4:57|

|Cali De Rumba| Fruko & Sus Tesos| Fruko Y Sus Tesos - Power Salsa| 5:26|

|Cali Flamenca Mix| Melcochita| Mis Mejores Exitos| 6:21|

|calla buey| Hector "tempo" Alomar| lo mejor de lo mejor| 5:13|

|Campana Mayoral| Jose Mangual Jr.| 5:15|

|Cantando| Los Niches| Grandes Exitos| 4:29|

|Cantando Se Fué| Cuco Valoy| Sonero| 4:18|

|Canto Abacua| Ray Barretto| At His Best| 8:17|

|Capullito De Azucena| Oscar D'Leon| El Panquelero| 4:32|

|Carnaval| Joe Arroyo| Y la Verdad| 5:06|

|Castígala| Cesar Nicolas| Lo Mejor de Lo Mejor| 4:10|

|Celebrando| La Puertorriqueña| Orquesta Puertorriqueña : 20 Aniversario| 5:02|

|Celia| José Alberto "El Canario"| On Time| 6:00|

|Chimpun Callao| Orquesta Macondo| Ultra Mix The Best Of Salsa Tropical Dance| 3:43|

|Como Es Posible| Louie Ramírez| Louie Ramirez y Super Banda| 5:04|

|Como lo Canto Yo| Spanish Harlem Orchestra| Across 110th Street| 4:32|

|Como Olvidarte| Oscar D'León| 4:01|

|Companera De Camino| Raphy Leavitt| Oro Salsero 20 Exitos - VOL 1| 4:04|

|Corazón de Acero| Cuco Valoy| Sonero| 4:14|

|Cuando te Vea| Grupo Mandinga| Back to the 70's| 4:08|

|Cuando Te Vea| Spanish Harlem| Across 110th Street| 4:50|

|Cuerpo De Guitarra| Various| Esto Si Es Salsa De Verdad!| 5:32|

|Culpable| GRUPO GALE| Esencia Latina| 4:17|

|Cumana| Valentin Valdez Bebe De La Salsa| 4:17|

|De Una Vez Gozando| La Sonora Carruseles| De Una Vez Gozando| 5:17|

|Descarga '73| Tipica 73 | 4:53|

|Descarga Total| Maraca| Latin Village Salsa (Mixed By DJ Mauri)| 6:00|

|Devuelve Mi Alegria| Willie Rosario| Mas Ritmo| 4:10|

|Déjate Querer| José Alberto "El Canario"| Herido| 5:11|

|Digo Yo| Grupo Niche| Historia Music, Vol. 1| 4:58|

|Dime Que Si| Antonio Cartagena| Dime Que Si| 4:25|

|Dime Que Si| Gilberto Santa Rosa Tres Con Cache| 4:19|

|Dime Si Llegue a Tiempo| Celia Cruz & Johnny Pacheco| Tremendo Cache| 3:51|

|Dinamita| Fania All-Stars| Commitment| 4:50|

|Dolor Y Amor| Ismael Miranda y Orq. Harlow| Abran Paso| 3:57|

|Dolores| Cano Estremera| Opera Ecuajey| 4:26|

|Dominicano Soy| Raulín Rosendo| Dominicano Para El Mundo| 4:54|

|Don Toribio| Grupo Mandinga| Back to the 70's| 4:26|

|Dos Amigos| Domingo Quiñones| Greatest Hits| 4:00|

|Echando Pa'Lante| Oscar D'León| El Cachumbambe| 3:57|

|El Apartamento| Willie Rosario| Back To The Future / 40 Aniversario| 4:19|

|El Artista Famoso| Roberto Blades| 5:51|

|El As de la Rumba| Jose Alberto "El Canario"| Back to the Mambo: Tribute to Machito| 4:48|

|El Bailarin de La Avenida| Sonora Carruseles| Con Todos Los Hierros| 4:11|

|El candado y la llave| Tito Allen| El Intocable| 4:34|

Don't get me wrong, there a multiple opinions on what the "top 100 salsa dance songs" are and aren't. But there are quite a few selections that are considered THE top 100 salsa dance songs all over the world. In LA and in NY, in Italy and South Korea, in Puerto Rico and Venezuela, in Colombia or Panama... these songs will fill the dance floors and keep salseros (and salseras) happy and dancing until they drop!




Remember, there are 4 other parts to this list, so keep returning, to find out which songs made it on the list. Or visit Casa De La Salsa [http://dancingsalsablog.com/blogs/] or SalsaHowz to read all our stories. We WILL take a vote, at the end of the series, to determine YOUR top 100 salsa dance songs. If you're missing any of these song from your library, get them from our online store here [http://dancingsalsablog.com/salsatunes/music/].




Monday, January 9, 2012

DJ Dance Floor Tips - Club DJing - Read The Crowd


Now I break this down some more by giving you DJ dance floor tips on how to read the crowd so you can play like a professional and make them go wild. Remember, the DJ not even looking up from his decks and playing out his programmed bedroom set doesn't transmit the right vibe.

The following DJ dance floor tips are what can really help you learn to read the crowd so you should try to remember to do this when out DJing.

How do your crowd look?

Playing latin house on the dance floor in a rock or hip hop club may not go down too well! Try to picture this now. Look at your crowd carefully and consider the following points before deciding what tunes are best:

1. Where are you? What city or country are you in and how much do you know about the people here?

2. Is this a straight or gay crowd? Use common sense here and adapt your tune selection accordingly.

3. What is the racial mix? Everyone knows that music tastes can differ according to race, but don't generalise. Test some styles, dabble in different tunes and see who reacts to what.

4. What style do they have? Are they scruffy, bearded or sharp and colourful? Are they carrying glow sticks? Long hair or short hair?

5. Do they know their music? Wearing suits and out for a cheesy best hits of the chart night? Many different styles exist.

Use the above observations to adapt and shape your set to your crowd, and test them with different styles of music to see how they react. This is really common sense and knowledge helping you shape your sets.

How do they respond to your DJ dance floor music?

Look up from your super blend of electro and hip hop for just one minute and observe who hits the floor when you play a certain tune. Who is losing it on his or her own in the corner? Who keeps looking up at you? Smile and you'll see how everything feels better.

The best DJ tip I can give you to read the dance floor crowd is to interact. Become one of them. It's the only way to really feel their vibe and get on the same wavelength. You may get some feedback from people who want to dance. Listen to it, because some people know what they're talking about. If you need to step things up a gear, sometimes people can wake you up to that. Really it can happen.

Wake up to your dance floor

Every disc jockey has had his or her off day and has needed waking up. If you see a particular group who dance more than everyone else, then play more of what they like. It's likely to get others on the floor too.

Gays and girls tend to dance more than straight boys, who will follow girls.




This article and many more other DJ tips, reviews, advice and a free guide to getting DJ gigs can be found at The Total DJ Site