How To Handle Requests
Ah requests, every DJ no matter where you are playing has had them and, love them or hate them, they are an inevitable part of the job. But just how should you handle requests when you get them? In this article, you will find all the information you need so you can handle them with confidence.
If you are in a rush and want just one takeaway- use them as a guide in terms of what the crowd might want you to play and not a must play list. If you have a bit more time, consider the following points.
Consider The Environment You Are DJing In
Is the request suitable to play in the environment you are DJing in? For example if you are in a cocktail lounge, playing some nice chilled beats, requests for techno perhaps won’t go down well with the other customers in the venue, nor your manager. This is an extreme example of course but it’s important to consider your surroundings and the other customers impacted by what music is being played.
2. What Music Should You Be Playing?
Is the music along the lines of what you have been asked to play? For example in a nightclub or multi-room venue there may be a music policy in place or if you are playing for a private client, they may have briefed you, asking for specific genres of music. The club/ client is ultimately the person that pays you, and so they come first!
This should always take precedent over a customer request. If the request fits in line with what you have been asked to play then fine, however be prepared to politely decline if this doesn’t match.
3. What Time Is It/ How Far Along In Your Set Are You?
There will always be that one customer that wants a song that really doesn’t fit the timing of the night or the set. If you are warming up, stick to warm up music even if you are requested for tracks which would be more suitable for the peak time- suddenly changing up the energy and then coming back down again will disrupt the flow of the night and the other people around who may not be quite ready to hit the floor.
The same can be said for the peak hour and getting a request which is more suited to the warm up or cool down part of the night.
4. Be Mindful Of Genre Changes
Much like the timing of playing requests and genres you should be playing, if you are playing multiple genres in your set, don’t just change up the genre for the sake of the request coming in. This is another factor that could damage the energy and flow of the night especially if you are hopping around from genre to genre just to play the requests.
5. What Will The Rest Of The Crowd Think?
It’s all well and good someone from the crowd wanting a song but will it work with the rest of audience or will it kill the mood and dance floor. Just because it’s in the right genre or even at the right time doesn’t mean that it will work with the wider crowd. If you are working in a particularly commercial venue and the crowd enjoy this music, it’s best to stick to commercial tracks rather than more obscure selections.
Always have the bigger picture, front of mind, the whole crowd rather than individuals in isolation.
Now You Have Considered The Above…Time To Respond!
Typically there will be 3 responses to the requester
Yes you will play the request
No you won’t play the request
You will consider the request - but it’s not suitable for right now
When responding, always be polite but assertive. You have to bear in mind that the requester may have had a few drinks and so may not understand an ambiguous response. Avoid comments like ‘maybe’ or ‘I’ll have a look’, this doesn’t usually end well as the person requesting the song is likely to come back and pester you some more.
Ideally you want to have one interaction and one only so handling a request decisively is the best approach- try and give the requester a clear outcome. Either ‘yes that’s a great song, I will play it’, ‘no that doesn’t fit in with the type of music I am playing tonight’ or even ‘yes that’s a great song, but I will play that a bit later on in the night’.
You need to stand firm, and don’t back down. You aren’t being rude, you are being decisive.
If you are playing in a multi-room venue it may just be a case of sending the customer to the room which is more likely to play the style of music which they are requesting so this keeps things nice and simple!
For more information on requests- please see the video at the bottom of this page and good luck out there!!