Since I started premixing and dancing on sk8s... nobody even cares what they hear. They love the full Show.. 🤗🤗🤗 & hit them with the booty drop old skool songs 🤫🤫🤫🤫
I mentioned this on Clevland's second video and I will mention it here. A DJ's first and primary job is to play the right music for the right people at the right time. Everything else is secondary, extra, bonus. I have seen a DJ literally play radio edits from start to finish and rock a party. I have also seen the most technical DJs kill parties. Playing the right music at the right time for the right people. Quick Mixing has its own set of drawbacks: 1. You don't have time to actually read a crowd and see how they are responding to what you are playing. I'm sorry 90secs is not enough time to actually see how a song moves a crowd one way or the other AND get another song ready to mix unless 2. You are playing the same mixes over and over. You have found that these songs work together so that is your quick mix go to. You mentioned it yourself with the we will rock you example. This might work great for private events, but if you are playing the same spot regularly, people will start to pick up on it after about the 3rd or 4th time. 3. Good music programing is about taking people on a journy. That journey needs to have both highs and lows. People who quick mix tend to be constantly chasing that high, and are scared of the low, but that low is what allows you to build up to a bigger high. 4.The music never gets to actually breath. If you feel the music is boring, then maybe you should get better music. Get remixes that are more interesting. 5. Quick mix DJs are often afraid that if they aren't doing something, twisting a knob, push some button, moving that fader, they aren't actually DJing. They are actually doing all of this for themselves, not the audience. All of that being said, there are times to quick mix and times to let it flow. Opening hours at the club, let most of the song play. You getting in there going HAM, you are going to scare people away from the big empty dancefloor. Peak time, pick it up and through some quick mixing in. Hit them with the bangers. Closing time, debatable, either hype mix to the end and leave them talking and wanting more or wind them down so they don't want to linger around the club when the lights come one. Its about being versitle. Know when to quick mix and when to let it breath and go. Quick mixing all night is exguashting for both the DJ AND the crowd and it gets boring. Its like watching TV with somebody who is always changing the channel. You just want to beat them with the remote and sit down and watch SOMETHING and not trying to watch EVERYTHING. Or you just tune it out and go do your own thing.
Have some good points, bit looks like you had more bad to say about quick mixing... But letting songs ride all the way through can definitely get boring. I don't think there is nothing "boring" about quick mixing. Whether the crowd likes it or not.
@@Playboysnow Just trying to balance out this video where he presents quick mixing as the holy grail and praises it all the way through. Its a technique. A tool that you should have in your toolbox that you can pull out when you need it. But if you only have one tool for everything, then eventually, you will find yourself trying to instal a screw with a hammer...it might work, but it won't be right.
@@jerrardbeasley4247 100% man, I follow Nick but was disappointed when he went down this route. I get it, he likes quick mixing but that don’t make it the holy grail, neither does suggesting you ain’t a real DJ if you’re not mixing constantly. Playing the right music at the right time is the mantra, everything else is extra
Well,i guess we're DONE here because Mr.Beasley just wrapped it up sealed the lid,and dropped some serious common sense,knowledge,and critical thinking.I think that alone should give him his own club,and he should be teaching damn near every Dj out here,what it's really about...Oh and yeah,what kind of dirtbag keeps changing the channel?That's like the person who comes in asking you stupid ass questions,while you are trying to enjoy the movie.What is the title>WHo is the focus puller?>Who did the soundtrack.?.blah blah blah
My exception is older and old black people. I'm in the south, and if you are doing an old-school party and cut the song, they get upset. Especially if its from one of the more popular bands like maze,the ojays, Temptations,or Stevie Wonder. They know every verse and want to sing and dance to it like they did back in the day. Once they get tired tho, they're done... turn up!
Gotta watch their body language, and know when to quick mix, your right older crowds hate quick mixing, that’s mainly for younger crowds and songs that are C or B level tracks imo.
While I feel Nick has some valid points, I do not believe quick mixing works all of the time. I played a wedding recently and tried to quick mix a couple of basic pop songs and got "the look" from the bride both times. That was enough for me. I didn't do it again. So, you need to read your crowd and adjust. Club music and songs with dead parts, yea probably most of the time quick mix. Pop, R&B and most dance-able rock, probably not. You can look at it this way. How many times have you been in a retail store enjoying a good song over their speakers and the gets cut short by some stupid announcement. You get annoyed because you were really digging that song.
For me you need to do both, the tune is made that length for a reason. Quick mixing non stop is nearly as bad as playing the full length every time. It's the equivalent of using deck effects for every mix, it's better to save it for that special moment. If you do it all the time it's not special anymore. Just my humble opinion
I think it depends if the mix is smooth. If it sounds like the band is ‘really there’ doing a medley, that can be cool. The records are made a length for radio or dance floor mixes. However, just because a record is a certain length by no means obliges one to play the whole song. An obvious thing is WHATEVER you do...if it doesn’t, switch it. It depends what we mean by ‘quick’. Some DJ’s can mix out during the first verse and your left dissatisfied. I’ve heard DJ’s mix songs out before the track gets going....as if they’re just showing off how many tracks they have!!
@@mrlawilliamsukwarmachine4904 I do super quick mixes in my set, I also do fairly quick mixes, but 70 percent of the time I'll play the full length. Doing a whole set where it's just 1/2 minutes long for each track is just moronic in my opinion. It's important to have the low energy before the massive high, it makes it more spectacular in my opinion. Rushing people off of their feet and just playing the best bit of the song for each track is just a terrible idea.
@@keithchegwin1222 i’m new but ur saying mixing every 2 minutes during the peak time is moronic? i don’t understand that. can you explain why. i feel like having 2 chorus’s would be enough right?
Every DJ has a strong opinion on this topic, and they love to cite the other DJs who agree with them. What I don’t see, is anybody polling the actual partygoers about their opinion on the matter. ASK THE PEOPLE what they prefer.
Often times the people have no clue what it is or what your doing. I've noticed it's more of a subconscious thing with your crowd. Often times they have no clue how it's done, but by the end of the night they are telling you how great you was....Along with all the horror stories of other "boring" or "terrible" DJ's they seen at other Weddings, Gigs, etc. I get these comments all the time about how they love how I rocked the party, and hate what they have heard in the past. 🤷♂️
Quick mixing vs long mixing all depends on your crowd and the music they're into. You wouldn't quick mix trance or underground style house/techno as those styles are meant to play out to take people on a journey which is expected from those particular crowds. Also, you can typically play out songs longer for the older generation of party goers from the 80s/90s in my opinion. But Hip hop, top 40, and open format in general is great for quick mixing as the crowd needs to be constantly engaged and people will usually get bored after the 1st hook of the song unless it's a banger people like the lyrics to. I play under a hip hop/open format alias and a strictly underground dance music alias and they are two different worlds I respect that makes me feel like a well rounded DJ.
So many people have complained to me over the past 25 years..... PLAY THE WHOLE SONG! So, I play almost the whole song, almost all the time. Those people pay the bills. But I get what you're saying. Some songs have dead parts , yes some need to be dumped at certain points, but mostly play most songs completely.
I do want to add, I cut the long repetitive intros. Or use them to talk over, so I guess in a way, I do somewhat quick mix, maybe not quick but cut some stuff up.
Literally one of the only times I ever got a refund was because the bride's best friend asked for a song and I didn't play the whole thing 😂 I was pissed because the song was slow and boring and I never heard it before in my life and I've never had anybody requested ever again since then. But they wanted to hear the whole song. Obviously it should not have resulted in a refund because the rest of the night was amazing but that's how important the difference is in some audiences.
@Ghost.uppercut correct, the way my company works is we will give anyone that complains hard enough a full refund so they don't go online and leave a bad review as that may cost us more in the long run. I don't entirely agree with this idea but it makes sense. Even if I know personally that every aspect was perfect and the client is full of shit we just "pay them off" and hope they go away. We factor this loss into our margins. We have over 1k reviews but we still keep this mentality because the latest reviews are often the main ones ppl read and we don't want to lose business over it.
Well they say music is about tension and release, so if you're only playing "the best bits" you will be getting rid of the tension that is needed. We need ups and downs in a song, a lot of music is about knowing what is coming. It's not all about the orgasm, it's about the foreplay too 😂. I quick mix, but only at peak time and when it's appropriate. Just my humble opinion
The exception for me is full sing along songs, some country, and slow songs. I try to keep from playing those though unless the crowd really needs/wants it.
I was at a wedding earlier this year where the DJ was playing whole songs, and people got up and left from boredom. By the time they tossed the bouquet, 20% of the folks had already gone home or left for the club/bar. I had a friend on his way out whispered a comment, “I can’t take this anymore.” The dancefloor was 0 people in the first 30 minutes of when floor opened, and he was letting those songs everyone hear the outro of everything he played. In my limit analysis of the situation, not being a wedding DJ myself, the DJ was basically prolonging songs for folks who may have not liked what he was playing. When you’re quick mixing, you’re getting a chance to acknowledge more tastes and preferences, rather than prolonging the agony onto certain people. I would assess that quick mixing is both artistic AND customer servitude at the same time. And just to paint the picture of that wedding, the DJ was playing Old Time Rock and Roll and the Top Gun Theme to a crowd of primarily Asian decent, old and young, in a large hall, while using column arrays, with the sub cutting out whenever he’d play something the crowd would find enjoyable. It was a terrible situation, and playing songs all the way was just icing to an overall cringy cake.
But was he actually playing the right songs. If he had taken that same set of songs and instead of playing it over 90 minutes he played it over 20 mins, would the party have been any better? If the answer is no, then it isn't a matter of playng whole songs, it is a matter of playing the wrong songs. The right songs, at the right time, for the right people.
I agree with most of what you have said about quick mixing. The majority of the crowd dictates how I run the music. Boomers want the entire song, younger people want a faster pace mix. Songs greater than 4 minutes usually get mixed out. Songs less than 3 minutes are easier to quick mix because of the repetitive nature. Techno is especially easy to mix in and out. I often go back and forth between several techno songs keeping the crown guessing what they are hearing. The bpm must be within a 5 bpm of each other. Using the Sync feature on Serato makes it an easy fusion.
For any newer DJs watching this or if you are a few years in and in learning mode - BE YOU, not all people enjoy lots of quick mixing and sometimes it’s dependent on your market. Continue to stay true to yourself and you will attract the clients that are looking for what you provide. There’s no right or wrong answer to this debate, just stay true to yourself and what YOU like to do! You do need to be completely proficient in your music, flow and reading the crowd…that’s imperative!
Your arguments are solid and strong. And you do it the right way. I think the reason why a lot of people are against quick mixing is because there are so many DJs out there doing it wrong. All the kinds of wrong you talked about and then more. There are so many DJs who do it wrong here in Mexico City that we have actually the opposite comments from couples. There are a lot of couples who come to us complaining about how the other day they were at a wedding and they had the worst time because the DJ was quick mixing the whole time. And they specifically asks us not to do that. They are like really really mad about that a lot of times.
I love the discussion here. Very intriguing to hear the old timers debate with the newer DJ'S. I'm an older traditional disk jockey playing one song after another. The rule that will never change is play to the crowd. If they like it do it. In other words if they like quick mixing do it... We are hired as entertainers and we should not disappoint our audience. Nowadays our crowd wants to feel like they are at a night club where a DJ mixes. I agree that not everyone has the same skill level but mixing should be one of our trademarks as DJ's. So if you can't mix this fast when the crowd likes it then it's time to step it. Needless to say I will continue to practice my mixing skills until I reach that level.
I definitely agree about knowing the best parts of a track. I also agree about different genres being more compatible with quick mixing. I mostly mix out after a couple of minutes, but I'm also surprised when I play tracks for longer and the energy on the dancefloor holds. I guess there's no 'one size fits all'
I couldn’t agree with you more Nick. I have been watching Brian S Redd for years but I feel he has an old DJ mentality. Most times I hear older DJs play they don’t quick mix and I feel it’s a missed opportunity. Older is relative however, as I’m 43 going on 44 and all I do is quick mix. Not sure if it’s a geographical thing perhaps as well as I’m in NY and people here have very short attention spans. Lol
This debate just depends on your crowd. Quick mixing is not a new thing. It's essentially how hip hop was born. Break beats and coming out of songs early have been a staple in most hip hop and African American clubs since the 80's. We never looked at it as the only way or even the best way. That's just the way it was. That said, as a dj, if your client wants to hear the majority or all the song , then that's what you do. The client is always right. If we want to do our own thing we should give our own parties.
I'm one of those who hate quick mixing, you don't give people the proper time to really enjoy a great song, perhaps their favorite, I know I would be furious if the DJ cuts a song I love after the first chorus. You just have to know what to play at the right time and people will have a good time, imho.
Nick it all depends on the genre of the music you’re playing. You don’t quick mix slow dances or latin music. If you’re quick mixing rap, pop and hip hop I would agree. It’s all relative. If everyone got up and danced and had a good time then you as a DJ did a great job no matter how mixed it.
Music is all about anticipation and suspense, just playing the best bits will get boring very quickly in my opinion. I like to quick mix, but only as certain times.
I used to be a huge Barry Manilow fan (don't judge me, lol). I went to one of his concerts he did a medley of like 10 of his big hits. I was pissed off. I felt like I had been cheated. When I go to a concert, I want to hear the whole version of the songs.:-)
When a DJ worries about how another one plays,it's just lame.The whole point is to learn and control your growd.What your crowd wants to do is dance,jump,holla,scream,and have a good time.That's our DJ JOB,period,to please the people.How you do it,is up to you,your professionalism,your experience,your inner voice,or even what the crowd might be saying..We cannot make generalizations,and each situation has it's own level of success.We cannot call what people like collectively a fact,because that's impossible.
I'm definitely Pro quick Mix, but I will say sometimes at Weddings they will get upset if you quick mix too fast. So I try to have a balance and let some ride. Just my experience....but I do only play first verse and first chorus on many songs.
I been a club & mobile dj since 1989. With thousands of events behind me all of it depends on song, crowd and dj style. You couldn’t quick mix too fast back in da day with a flash light scanning your library of records, cds you had to carry and find in a dark environment. So your sets went a bit longer nowadays you can mix super quick based on your style, set and crowd. I dj proms for 16 plus years for 1200 kids diverse music and sets….now with the style of life it’s “quick & now” UNLESS they hittin hard on certain songs then let it ride. I say there’s no right or wrong answer it’s part of how you dj, your selection and interaction with your crowd will book you every weekend or leave you party rockin in your bedroom. Nick love your style & videos!!!
I agree with you 100%. I was doing a Disco set (and we all know disco songs are long) I just kept quick mixing and got to play more music. They never left the dance floor. They never knew what was coming which kept it interesting. That oh moment over and over again.. I also feel that quick mixing is exciting and they see that you’re into it ..you don’t have time to do anything else but mix in and out and that just makes everyone hyped..
This is SO interesting. I've been a wedding DJ up here in Vermont for 35 years and while I beatmix everything (and always have), people aren't talking about quick mixing here in Vermont..... Except this past season, I had a wedding where the grooms, who were up from the Boston area, asked that each song be "mixed part way through as (they didn't) need to hear the full song." The grooms didn't use the term quick mixing, but clearly that's what they meant. So, of course, I did it. Honestly, for the first 30 minutes or so of dancing, I was back on my heels a bit while I was getting used to what I was doing (no train wrecks, but not as good as I wanted to be). After I got my feet under me though, it was great and definitely kept the energy up. It's worth a try. I'm inspired to keep on trying. Thank you
I can tell by some of the comments that a lot of you don't even understand what Nick is actually saying. You have to know how to quick mix properly for it to work. You aren't quick mixing just for the sake of quick mixing. With that being said, it's still just a general rule. I don't think Nick is implying that you MUST quick mix every single song every single night to be a successful DJ. I've been Dj'ing over 20 years and still getting booked 5+ nights a week like I'm still in my prime (I'm old lol). I can't think of one song where I let the entire song play but I'm also playing the parts of the song that people want to hear so they aren't getting upset when I decide to move on. There is an art to it. I can't even imagine playing a night where I'm mostly just letting songs rock. Someone mentioned the night needs to have "highs and lows". That's inevitable. Naturally not everyone is gonna like every song you play so at some point people will take a break, go to the bar or do whatever it is they want to do. Also, just because you're quick mixing, that doesn't necessarily mean the energy of the music is high all night. I bring different levels of energy throughout the night. Build and release..build and release. That "Ice Ice Baby" was a perfect example too. There's no way your dance floor is still jumpin on that 2nd verse lol. Nick is speaking from experience. I too notice that my dance floor loses energy on certain tracks at certain parts of the song. I'm not gonna wait for that to happen when I know it's gonna happen lol. I'm not gonna lie and say that I've never upset a person when quick mixing but there's more people happy than upset so I just have to roll with that. I don't think this is market specific either. I know DJs all over the United States (and a few in other countries) and they all quick mix. Again, it's still just a general rule and must be executed properly. It's not about just taking a song, playing the first verse, chorus then out.
Dude!!!! I am doing my FIRST gig this weekend (2 actually) I have NEVER DJ'd EVER! Yes - I am going out w a vet and just watching but .... I am a musician. I grew up watch my father (band leader / MC) - I am all about the MC part - but spinning don't know crap. YOU ARE AMAZING. Your quick mix video - I would (not knowing crap) thought every objection your subs raised was right - until ... you shut every single one down!!! So smart - so f-ing right. You're a GD monster. Truth be told - I really only was into the MC aspect. Then I see the freaking vibe you create. Holding people in the palm of your hand - getting them completely off! I know music is magic. THAT IS A FACT. And you are a wizard! I will rock this biz. I just know I will - but a good part of my success will be because I rode your coattails. What a damn pro you are!
What a great response to this issue! I trust and feel what you are saying. I realize I started doing it the right way subconsciously and let other people tell me to only quickmix if its a bad song. I realize now a few moments of bad programming made people come up and say that to me while DJing live. But this put it all in perspective. Thank you! At the end of the Day #KnowYourMusic. And eventually you will learn how to use it on a deeper level at a gig.
I basically never quick mix, I don't play the actual whole song because I am mixing but I don't just play chorus verse chorus cut. I find if people are singing along with the music and you cut them off repeatedly you just piss them off. The only time I do is when it's peak time and there's only an hour to go and there is still a lot of requests to get through, I'll quick mix to keep the energy up and keep everyone happy by playing at least a part of their 'special' song.
Lol that into splash screen! Amazing! I am definentely a non quick mixer. I can quick mix but only for hot hot moment during a "dance session" during a wedding! People for the most part like to enjoy the music especially during a slow dance floor. Quik mixing is essential for the club DJ - especially commercial high volume clubs with a young clientel.
You know what’s funny? Me and my brother were one of the first to mix house music/techno on 4 tables with a bunch of innovative ideas nobody had ever really heard except for on studio produced mix tapes with slick intros and all that. Now, because we had 4 turntables we were really able to perform those intros on the fly live. Especially years later when Serato came out, it was great to prepare tracks, get them ready, cue buttons etc….people loved it. We made an entire DJ career quick mixing. We’re talking about 80 tracks played in some form or fashion in a 45 min set. This wasn’t like wedding music or pop music, so the rave and club kids are a different breed. Even in my older years when I started doing Corp gigs for Pepsi that paid very well, I played extremely conservatively. Weddings, same thing. You actually have brides and grooms handing you payment or cash or whatever at the end of the night and it’s a different thing to get paid by them where they’ll let you have it if you sucked, rather than an invisible “huge corporate entity” big company exec, you’ll prob never meet again. Ever.
If I notice that a song isn't well received, I'll mix in a transition more quickly. But for songs like 'Everybody' by the Backstreet Boys, for example, I'll let it play through.
This video is timely. BSR just put out a video of him going down a list of most requested songs from 2010-present. It bummed me out because he kept glossing over songs that he's played once or twice and that no one liked it. It sounded like how my dad talks about the music he doesn't like... I mean- almost all the songs he mentioned, I've quick mixed a verse and it goes well across different ages and backgrounds. I mean- I could see how people could get bored hearing the whole song, especially a new song. Different strokes, I guess?
Everything Nick is saying is for sure correct as a general rule. I feel too many people focus way too much on exceptions to rules, and then try to die on that hill…
Gospel man, Quick mixing is a total learned skill. if you can’t do it confidently where it makes sense to listener, you’re not going to have a positive result. I could do it in the past but made a point To use the covid year to level up and work on those skills. The frequency of events this year being absolute ragers has been noticeable. It’s what people want, it’s more fun for you as a DJ and it will positively impact your business .
People that can’t quick mix and keep a crowd hype are hating this video 🤣 I do both, I can mix quick or I can play the whole song, I know how to keep my crowd. It’s all about crowd reaction and knowing what to play and when.
where i live quick mixing all night at a wedding or wedding related party (called a social) will get you removed & never hired again.. its been like this for the 20 years ive dj'd here.. for me theres a time & a place & also a crowd (which is the younger less attention span) crowd (we all have shortened ours over the years) i have a.d.d & mix most of the song, but i also beatmatch as i now play rave shit. no quick mixing there, all long mixing. newer music needs to be mixed out quick. some guy mentioned that quick mixing was forged in the clubs... well hes wrong! it comes from hip hop. underground mixmasters brought it to nightclubs when they would perform there.. then it became more normal in the clubs... but ONLY in select markets.. here its mostly still long mixing.. but like was also said, no one goes to a wedding to see the dj. we are the lowest on the totem pole there. play to your crowd, make that money rockin them & get out!
Excellent analysis and advisory comments. To 'quick mix' takes focus and practice. I've been at this trade since 1977 and what works for me at the core is this Nick: "You cannot LEAD the crowd if you cannot READ the crowd." Combined with song knowledge, intuitive thinking and your imagination . . . figure out segue techniques that WORK! . . . from smooth blends to powerful, well timed drop mixes. I like your your aggressive fast moving approach Sir Nick. Sincerely Portland DJ Dan
I have an idea! Why don't all of you DJs who are not sure wether your clients want full songs played or only 1 or 2 minutes of each song played before your mix out of it ASK YOUR CLIENTS HOW THEY WOULD PREFER YOU TO DJ THEIR EVENT??? I have this very question on my wedding planning form, and I even go into detail with the question. In my market, with my clients, NOBODY has told me to quick mix my songs. ONE COUPLE has told me they would like me to play 2 minutes of each song to get many requests in, but wanted me to play "the full songs" for their must play list. Every other client has told me that they would prefer to hear "Most of, or ALL OF" the song before I mix into the next one. I am in Maryland, and 75% of my weddings are in the D.C. or NOVA Market. Quick mixing seems to be much more popular in Jersey, and New York City etc. when it comes to weddings and private events. A Club is a different story.
I'm an old G also, Been doing it since 1983 and still doing it. Mixing is the way to go. You can touch so many people in the room by going through so many different genres of music. I feel like these guys that just want to play the whole song, the client might as well just rip some speakers and put Spotify up because that's what these other guys are doing. Back in the day if you could not dj you got booed off the turntables or nobody came to see you. People went to clubs to see that badass DJ. Keep doing what you doing brother.
i appreciate you for saying this phrase is false, if it works, dont change it "If it ain't broke don't fix it" is such a false phrase that keeps people away from innovation and new discoveries in every area
Faster is the way to go. Certain situations call for more of the song (last song of a wedding for example). Just like anything else, the rule doesn't apply 100% of the time. There are always exceptions. Minus exceptions though, I am definitely on the side of faster. Makes for a better party.
I’m 1 verse/1 chorus and I’m gone. If it’s a current banger, brand new song tearing up the charts I’m 2nd verse/2nd chorus. The only time I get dirty looks is when I’m cutting their favorite song short and mixing into a song they hate. No DJs should ever play the entire song during a live mix. Doing so will clear the dance floor.
So I have a gig next Saturday 53rd BD and I'm going to put together some quick mix songs and see how it goes. At the same time songs in my Motown and oldies sets are only about 2 minutes each to begin with so theres no point in that but classic rock and disco and 80's in addition to modern obviously might benefit from quick mixing in my parties.
Just organize your music so you have songs ready to mix in. Banger crate! Watch other DJs! Music is getting shorter anyways though. Most songs are 2min now especially Hiphop songs and also Spotify algorithms make producers make shorter songs.
The last bit about your info given when you go to a hired event about playin the best parts of a song...... says it all. I'm only a year in now and can say this. If you're playing a song fully, you're a touch tunes.
Buenas tardes y saludos desde seville Me alegra escucharte Nick pensaba que era un incomprendido con las mezclas rápidas y muchas gracias por tus vídeos, porque nos ayudan a mejorar
As a DJ of 20 years I’ll say that DJ ADHD is right in this video 100%. Quick mixing is not just about mixing quickly, it’s about mixing EFFICIENTLY in a way that’s high energy. And efficiency means knowing your tracks, being prepped and practiced and knowing how to play them quickly. This is the difference between DJs who are performers and those who are just plain old running tunes.
I agree with everything you said however I will say that playing some songs longer when people are really enjoying them is okay. Is DJ's we get really caught up into our ADHD mentality but the average audience is thinking a minute and a half to 2 minutes of every song not 30 seconds of every song. Granted I'm in Texas so the style is very different than the East Coast I know this because we have a franchise in Long Island. So I say this as a way to say that there are different crowds different strokes for different folks obviously and so take what this guy is saying with a grain of salt because it may not be as applicable to your region as it is to his. But I do agree that there is a ton of music out there and you can just keep it pushing.
Nick, would you quick mix at a bar or club because when I play Snoop Dogg’s Ain’t no fun (if the homie can’t have none) crowd sings the whole song, would you play the whole song?
Great video. If just doing verse + chorus of two songs and are mixing them, what parts of the songs do you usually mix? Last 8 bars of the chorus + 8 bars before the verse on the incoming song. On songs with strong intros, if going quick I generally echo out. Anything else you would do? Thanks for all your help! Happy holidays! 🎄
There’s literally no way you can argue this. Well said. The reason why djs don’t do it is because of what you said “it takes time and it takes practice.” If djs don’t mix and/or quick mix is because of laziness flat out! We book so many events BECAUSE we mix and we charge more than everyone because we mix.
Love the confidence, that said if you are a mobile dj, your client and crowd will dictate your style of play. Love quick transitions, but if your Client doesn't want it, you have to be able to switch up your style. For example if your crowd is 21yrs to 32 quick transitions will probably work. If your crowd is 34- 45yrs old, they probably won't love a full night of quick transitions. I think the best policy is every style in moderation. Don't over use effects, don't over use quick mixing, and don't play every song all the way to the end.
From my experience - Quick mixing is especially important when you don't have a lot of people on the dancefloor. Don't want to get into analyzing it, but for some reason it absolutely helps to quick mix in that situation and it helps keep people on the dancefloor. Other than that, generally speaking - use your experience. You know which songs "die" on you if you leave them on too long, and which don't. So use your experience and blend - sometimes you quick mix, sometimes you don't. Case by case scenario. Obviously though be on the lookout if a crowd is crazy about a certain song - don't mix it out early, and one more critical scenario - if a song is really important to the married couple or whoever booked you for that event - do not cut it short. Important and interesting video regardless, thank you !
Sorry Nick, but there are people who don't like quick mixing. All the reasons you've mentioned PLUS they don't like the quick mix either. Don't say that people DON'T get mad when that's obviously not true. Crowd read, yes. Didn't play the section they wanted to hear, sure. But that doesn't mean they only want a snippet of a tune. They're fickle so it all comes down to crowd reading energy.
I agree. I used to DJ like 10 years ago, When you quick mix you can get away with playing a lot of songs even if they’re old, you play the best part and move on to the next one. Only a few songs I played entirely.
Yeah I honestly do the same thing..when is necessary..only if it's necessary..certain songs you let Play..until u find a exit out..let's move on..love you brother..One!!
Do you have or can you recommend any sets to listen to or videos to watch of quick mixing?. Its definitely something i want to get into. I feel young crowds especially get fed up with whole songs. Keep up the good work
I wanna ask if you will still will quick mix it he party run for 6 hours and not 3. That's the way it happen in my country, so, in our case, wick mix is not so common, unless you have short timeframe space like 2 or 3 hours.
Here is my assessment on quick mixing: (1). it doesn't work on people that are older on the dancefloor, I say this because older people for the most part like older songs, they don't get to here these songs out at an event very often, so when their song comes on, they want the full experience. They want to hear the beat, sing all of the words that they remember and they actually get upset when their song is cut short. (2). Quick mixing works amazing for younger crowds, they have more of a TikTok mentality meaning their attention span is short. They want to hear the most famous part of the song, so in short they want one verse and one chorus and that's it. So with that said, my advise is when you have a mixed crowd of older and younger people on your dancefloor, keep this in mind, play older songs a little longer and play newer songs short. ***Click thumbs up if you agree, and thumbs down if you disagree***
great tip ! That’s the beauty of being a great DJ , everyone has their own style which verse and chorus to mix, its like you’re making a whole new song , or writing a rhyme, you have to clever with how you put words together, Eminem said its like putting together a puzzle
It’s all about taking your guest on a musical journey. Quick mixing helps achieve this. Take for example Jive Bunny mix. Line dances are different though.
Quick mixer here except: 1. First dance at a wedding and 2. Sing along songs that are definitely BANGERS! I don't hang around playing songs to the end 😂😂
I can quick mix , but as a deep house, melodic, etc. my mixes tend to be as long as I can (to make it smooth and not like cut and paste. I get what you say, but you get me (I guess) Now there are songs that you have to play the whole song because the crowd wants to hear/sing it, but really out of respect for the song. But in my type of songs, even if I long mix, they don't get to second or third verse (there isn't exist)
I quick mix 100% of my songs with the exception of some people favorites, that’s why must of us need to do our homework and see what the crowd loves on that city, specially if you are a regular DJ of that location you should know what to quick mix or not. If you are afraid of running out of music maybe you need to download more songs no need to ran out of songs nowadays we are not carrying records like back in the days
DJs: "We have over 300K songs!"
Also DJs: "I don't want to quick mix because I'll run out of bangers to play..."
Well when 90 percent of your songs are emo shower songs. 300k or not... lol.
Lol get more songs...
Since I started premixing and dancing on sk8s... nobody even cares what they hear.
They love the full Show..
🤗🤗🤗 & hit them with the booty drop old skool songs 🤫🤫🤫🤫
Lmao true!
downloading discographies gives you songs but you can play a tiny fraction of them
I mentioned this on Clevland's second video and I will mention it here. A DJ's first and primary job is to play the right music for the right people at the right time. Everything else is secondary, extra, bonus. I have seen a DJ literally play radio edits from start to finish and rock a party. I have also seen the most technical DJs kill parties. Playing the right music at the right time for the right people.
Quick Mixing has its own set of drawbacks:
1. You don't have time to actually read a crowd and see how they are responding to what you are playing. I'm sorry 90secs is not enough time to actually see how a song moves a crowd one way or the other AND get another song ready to mix unless
2. You are playing the same mixes over and over. You have found that these songs work together so that is your quick mix go to. You mentioned it yourself with the we will rock you example. This might work great for private events, but if you are playing the same spot regularly, people will start to pick up on it after about the 3rd or 4th time.
3. Good music programing is about taking people on a journy. That journey needs to have both highs and lows. People who quick mix tend to be constantly chasing that high, and are scared of the low, but that low is what allows you to build up to a bigger high.
4.The music never gets to actually breath. If you feel the music is boring, then maybe you should get better music. Get remixes that are more interesting.
5. Quick mix DJs are often afraid that if they aren't doing something, twisting a knob, push some button, moving that fader, they aren't actually DJing. They are actually doing all of this for themselves, not the audience.
All of that being said, there are times to quick mix and times to let it flow. Opening hours at the club, let most of the song play. You getting in there going HAM, you are going to scare people away from the big empty dancefloor. Peak time, pick it up and through some quick mixing in. Hit them with the bangers. Closing time, debatable, either hype mix to the end and leave them talking and wanting more or wind them down so they don't want to linger around the club when the lights come one.
Its about being versitle. Know when to quick mix and when to let it breath and go. Quick mixing all night is exguashting for both the DJ AND the crowd and it gets boring. Its like watching TV with somebody who is always changing the channel. You just want to beat them with the remote and sit down and watch SOMETHING and not trying to watch EVERYTHING. Or you just tune it out and go do your own thing.
Have some good points, bit looks like you had more bad to say about quick mixing... But letting songs ride all the way through can definitely get boring. I don't think there is nothing "boring" about quick mixing. Whether the crowd likes it or not.
@@Playboysnow Just trying to balance out this video where he presents quick mixing as the holy grail and praises it all the way through. Its a technique. A tool that you should have in your toolbox that you can pull out when you need it. But if you only have one tool for everything, then eventually, you will find yourself trying to instal a screw with a hammer...it might work, but it won't be right.
@Jerrard Beasley I agree with you 100 percent
@@jerrardbeasley4247 100% man, I follow Nick but was disappointed when he went down this route. I get it, he likes quick mixing but that don’t make it the holy grail, neither does suggesting you ain’t a real DJ if you’re not mixing constantly. Playing the right music at the right time is the mantra, everything else is extra
Well,i guess we're DONE here because Mr.Beasley just wrapped it up sealed the lid,and dropped some serious common sense,knowledge,and critical thinking.I think that alone should give him his own club,and he should be teaching damn near every Dj out here,what it's really about...Oh and yeah,what kind of dirtbag keeps changing the channel?That's like the person who comes in asking you stupid ass questions,while you are trying to enjoy the movie.What is the title>WHo is the focus puller?>Who did the soundtrack.?.blah blah blah
My exception is older and old black people. I'm in the south, and if you are doing an old-school party and cut the song, they get upset. Especially if its from one of the more popular bands like maze,the ojays, Temptations,or Stevie Wonder. They know every verse and want to sing and dance to it like they did back in the day. Once they get tired tho, they're done... turn up!
Facts
Yeah man. F that. Know your crowd and if it works, do it.
That's knowing your crowd in your region, nice!
Gotta watch their body language, and know when to quick mix, your right older crowds hate quick mixing, that’s mainly for younger crowds and songs that are C or B level tracks imo.
I'm in Africa and if you spin the oldies fast it's like mixing out of before I let go before he gets to his best riffs
While I feel Nick has some valid points, I do not believe quick mixing works all of the time. I played a wedding recently and tried to quick mix a couple of basic pop songs and got "the look" from the bride both times. That was enough for me. I didn't do it again. So, you need to read your crowd and adjust. Club music and songs with dead parts, yea probably most of the time quick mix. Pop, R&B and most dance-able rock, probably not. You can look at it this way. How many times have you been in a retail store enjoying a good song over their speakers and the gets cut short by some stupid announcement. You get annoyed because you were really digging that song.
For me you need to do both, the tune is made that length for a reason. Quick mixing non stop is nearly as bad as playing the full length every time. It's the equivalent of using deck effects for every mix, it's better to save it for that special moment. If you do it all the time it's not special anymore. Just my humble opinion
I think it depends if the mix is smooth. If it sounds like the band is ‘really there’ doing a medley, that can be cool. The records are made a length for radio or dance floor mixes. However, just because a record is a certain length by no means obliges one to play the whole song. An obvious thing is WHATEVER you do...if it doesn’t, switch it. It depends what we mean by ‘quick’. Some DJ’s can mix out during the first verse and your left dissatisfied. I’ve heard DJ’s mix songs out before the track gets going....as if they’re just showing off how many tracks they have!!
@@mrlawilliamsukwarmachine4904 I do super quick mixes in my set, I also do fairly quick mixes, but 70 percent of the time I'll play the full length. Doing a whole set where it's just 1/2 minutes long for each track is just moronic in my opinion.
It's important to have the low energy before the massive high, it makes it more spectacular in my opinion. Rushing people off of their feet and just playing the best bit of the song for each track is just a terrible idea.
@@keithchegwin1222 i’m new but ur saying mixing every 2 minutes during the peak time is moronic? i don’t understand that. can you explain why. i feel like having 2 chorus’s would be enough right?
Every DJ has a strong opinion on this topic, and they love to cite the other DJs who agree with them. What I don’t see, is anybody polling the actual partygoers about their opinion on the matter. ASK THE PEOPLE what they prefer.
The non mixers would be scared to do that.
Often times the people have no clue what it is or what your doing. I've noticed it's more of a subconscious thing with your crowd. Often times they have no clue how it's done, but by the end of the night they are telling you how great you was....Along with all the horror stories of other "boring" or "terrible" DJ's they seen at other Weddings, Gigs, etc. I get these comments all the time about how they love how I rocked the party, and hate what they have heard in the past. 🤷♂️
Quick mixing vs long mixing all depends on your crowd and the music they're into. You wouldn't quick mix trance or underground style house/techno as those styles are meant to play out to take people on a journey which is expected from those particular crowds. Also, you can typically play out songs longer for the older generation of party goers from the 80s/90s in my opinion.
But Hip hop, top 40, and open format in general is great for quick mixing as the crowd needs to be constantly engaged and people will usually get bored after the 1st hook of the song unless it's a banger people like the lyrics to.
I play under a hip hop/open format alias and a strictly underground dance music alias and they are two different worlds I respect that makes me feel like a well rounded DJ.
So many people have complained to me over the past 25 years..... PLAY THE WHOLE SONG! So, I play almost the whole song, almost all the time. Those people pay the bills. But I get what you're saying. Some songs have dead parts , yes some need to be dumped at certain points, but mostly play most songs completely.
I do want to add, I cut the long repetitive intros. Or use them to talk over, so I guess in a way, I do somewhat quick mix, maybe not quick but cut some stuff up.
So far from the truth...
DJs that don't quick mix just don't have enough bangers...
Literally one of the only times I ever got a refund was because the bride's best friend asked for a song and I didn't play the whole thing 😂 I was pissed because the song was slow and boring and I never heard it before in my life and I've never had anybody requested ever again since then. But they wanted to hear the whole song. Obviously it should not have resulted in a refund because the rest of the night was amazing but that's how important the difference is in some audiences.
@@RealQuickComics refund? You mean you didn't get paid at all? no way lol
@Ghost.uppercut correct, the way my company works is we will give anyone that complains hard enough a full refund so they don't go online and leave a bad review as that may cost us more in the long run. I don't entirely agree with this idea but it makes sense. Even if I know personally that every aspect was perfect and the client is full of shit we just "pay them off" and hope they go away. We factor this loss into our margins. We have over 1k reviews but we still keep this mentality because the latest reviews are often the main ones ppl read and we don't want to lose business over it.
Well they say music is about tension and release, so if you're only playing "the best bits" you will be getting rid of the tension that is needed. We need ups and downs in a song, a lot of music is about knowing what is coming. It's not all about the orgasm, it's about the foreplay too 😂. I quick mix, but only at peak time and when it's appropriate. Just my humble opinion
The exception for me is full sing along songs, some country, and slow songs. I try to keep from playing those though unless the crowd really needs/wants it.
this!!! I'm in Western Wisconsin. I dare anyone to cut shania off........... hahahahah
I was at a wedding earlier this year where the DJ was playing whole songs, and people got up and left from boredom. By the time they tossed the bouquet, 20% of the folks had already gone home or left for the club/bar. I had a friend on his way out whispered a comment, “I can’t take this anymore.” The dancefloor was 0 people in the first 30 minutes of when floor opened, and he was letting those songs everyone hear the outro of everything he played.
In my limit analysis of the situation, not being a wedding DJ myself, the DJ was basically prolonging songs for folks who may have not liked what he was playing. When you’re quick mixing, you’re getting a chance to acknowledge more tastes and preferences, rather than prolonging the agony onto certain people. I would assess that quick mixing is both artistic AND customer servitude at the same time.
And just to paint the picture of that wedding, the DJ was playing Old Time Rock and Roll and the Top Gun Theme to a crowd of primarily Asian decent, old and young, in a large hall, while using column arrays, with the sub cutting out whenever he’d play something the crowd would find enjoyable. It was a terrible situation, and playing songs all the way was just icing to an overall cringy cake.
I was wondering which one of my weddings you were at, but then I realized I don't play the Top Gun theme. 🤣🤣🤣🤣
But was he actually playing the right songs. If he had taken that same set of songs and instead of playing it over 90 minutes he played it over 20 mins, would the party have been any better? If the answer is no, then it isn't a matter of playng whole songs, it is a matter of playing the wrong songs. The right songs, at the right time, for the right people.
he didnt know how to mix them
I agree with most of what you have said about quick mixing. The majority of the crowd dictates how I run the music. Boomers want the entire song, younger people want a faster pace mix. Songs greater than 4 minutes usually get mixed out. Songs less than 3 minutes are easier to quick mix because of the repetitive nature. Techno is especially easy to mix in and out. I often go back and forth between several techno songs keeping the crown guessing what they are hearing. The bpm must be within a 5 bpm of each other. Using the Sync feature on Serato makes it an easy fusion.
I think two chorus’ and one verse is generally perfect. And quick mixing only works if you have good phrasing and can keep a good pocket going
For any newer DJs watching this or if you are a few years in and in learning mode - BE YOU, not all people enjoy lots of quick mixing and sometimes it’s dependent on your market. Continue to stay true to yourself and you will attract the clients that are looking for what you provide. There’s no right or wrong answer to this debate, just stay true to yourself and what YOU like to do! You do need to be completely proficient in your music, flow and reading the crowd…that’s imperative!
Your arguments are solid and strong. And you do it the right way. I think the reason why a lot of people are against quick mixing is because there are so many DJs out there doing it wrong. All the kinds of wrong you talked about and then more. There are so many DJs who do it wrong here in Mexico City that we have actually the opposite comments from couples. There are a lot of couples who come to us complaining about how the other day they were at a wedding and they had the worst time because the DJ was quick mixing the whole time. And they specifically asks us not to do that. They are like really really mad about that a lot of times.
I love the discussion here. Very intriguing to hear the old timers debate with the newer DJ'S. I'm an older traditional disk jockey playing one song after another. The rule that will never change is play to the crowd. If they like it do it. In other words if they like quick mixing do it... We are hired as entertainers and we should not disappoint our audience. Nowadays our crowd wants to feel like they are at a night club where a DJ mixes.
I agree that not everyone has the same skill level but mixing should be one of our trademarks as DJ's. So if you can't mix this fast when the crowd likes it then it's time to step it. Needless to say I will continue to practice my mixing skills until I reach that level.
I love when people try to act like quick mixing is a new school thing as if Kool Herc wasn't quick mixing from breakbeat to breakbeat back in the day.
I definitely agree about knowing the best parts of a track. I also agree about different genres being more compatible with quick mixing. I mostly mix out after a couple of minutes, but I'm also surprised when I play tracks for longer and the energy on the dancefloor holds. I guess there's no 'one size fits all'
I couldn’t agree with you more Nick. I have been watching Brian S Redd for years but I feel he has an old DJ mentality. Most times I hear older DJs play they don’t quick mix and I feel it’s a missed opportunity. Older is relative however, as I’m 43 going on 44 and all I do is quick mix. Not sure if it’s a geographical thing perhaps as well as I’m in NY and people here have very short attention spans. Lol
This debate just depends on your crowd. Quick mixing is not a new thing. It's essentially how hip hop was born. Break beats and coming out of songs early have been a staple in most hip hop and African American clubs since the 80's. We never looked at it as the only way or even the best way. That's just the way it was. That said, as a dj, if your client wants to hear the majority or all the song , then that's what you do. The client is always right. If we want to do our own thing we should give our own parties.
I'm one of those who hate quick mixing, you don't give people the proper time to really enjoy a great song, perhaps their favorite, I know I would be furious if the DJ cuts a song I love after the first chorus.
You just have to know what to play at the right time and people will have a good time, imho.
Nick it all depends on the genre of the music you’re playing. You don’t quick mix slow dances or latin music. If you’re quick mixing rap, pop and hip hop I would agree. It’s all relative. If everyone got up and danced and had a good time then you as a DJ did a great job no matter how mixed it.
Amen
That is why they call it pop music. Pop in pop out.
Music is all about anticipation and suspense, just playing the best bits will get boring very quickly in my opinion. I like to quick mix, but only as certain times.
I used to be a huge Barry Manilow fan (don't judge me, lol). I went to one of his concerts he did a medley of like 10 of his big hits. I was pissed off. I felt like I had been cheated. When I go to a concert, I want to hear the whole version of the songs.:-)
When a DJ worries about how another one plays,it's just lame.The whole point is to learn and control your growd.What your crowd wants to do is dance,jump,holla,scream,and have a good time.That's our DJ JOB,period,to please the people.How you do it,is up to you,your professionalism,your experience,your inner voice,or even what the crowd might be saying..We cannot make generalizations,and each situation has it's own level of success.We cannot call what people like collectively a fact,because that's impossible.
I'm definitely Pro quick Mix, but I will say sometimes at Weddings they will get upset if you quick mix too fast. So I try to have a balance and let some ride. Just my experience....but I do only play first verse and first chorus on many songs.
I been a club & mobile dj since 1989. With thousands of events behind me all of it depends on song, crowd and dj style. You couldn’t quick mix too fast back in da day with a flash light scanning your library of records, cds you had to carry and find in a dark environment. So your sets went a bit longer nowadays you can mix super quick based on your style, set and crowd. I dj proms for 16 plus years for 1200 kids diverse music and sets….now with the style of life it’s “quick & now” UNLESS they hittin hard on certain songs then let it ride. I say there’s no right or wrong answer it’s part of how you dj, your selection and interaction with your crowd will book you every weekend or leave you party rockin in your bedroom. Nick love your style & videos!!!
Awesome vid Nick! Learnt a lot from this one
I agree with you 100%. I was doing a Disco set (and we all know disco songs are long) I just kept quick mixing and got to play more music. They never left the dance floor. They never knew what was coming which kept it interesting. That oh moment over and over again.. I also feel that quick mixing is exciting and they see that you’re into it ..you don’t have time to do anything else but mix in and out and that just makes everyone hyped..
This is SO interesting. I've been a wedding DJ up here in Vermont for 35 years and while I beatmix everything (and always have), people aren't talking about quick mixing here in Vermont.....
Except this past season, I had a wedding where the grooms, who were up from the Boston area, asked that each song be "mixed part way through as (they didn't) need to hear the full song." The grooms didn't use the term quick mixing, but clearly that's what they meant.
So, of course, I did it. Honestly, for the first 30 minutes or so of dancing, I was back on my heels a bit while I was getting used to what I was doing (no train wrecks, but not as good as I wanted to be). After I got my feet under me though, it was great and definitely kept the energy up.
It's worth a try. I'm inspired to keep on trying. Thank you
I can tell by some of the comments that a lot of you don't even understand what Nick is actually saying. You have to know how to quick mix properly for it to work. You aren't quick mixing just for the sake of quick mixing. With that being said, it's still just a general rule. I don't think Nick is implying that you MUST quick mix every single song every single night to be a successful DJ. I've been Dj'ing over 20 years and still getting booked 5+ nights a week like I'm still in my prime (I'm old lol). I can't think of one song where I let the entire song play but I'm also playing the parts of the song that people want to hear so they aren't getting upset when I decide to move on. There is an art to it. I can't even imagine playing a night where I'm mostly just letting songs rock. Someone mentioned the night needs to have "highs and lows". That's inevitable. Naturally not everyone is gonna like every song you play so at some point people will take a break, go to the bar or do whatever it is they want to do. Also, just because you're quick mixing, that doesn't necessarily mean the energy of the music is high all night. I bring different levels of energy throughout the night. Build and release..build and release. That "Ice Ice Baby" was a perfect example too. There's no way your dance floor is still jumpin on that 2nd verse lol. Nick is speaking from experience. I too notice that my dance floor loses energy on certain tracks at certain parts of the song. I'm not gonna wait for that to happen when I know it's gonna happen lol. I'm not gonna lie and say that I've never upset a person when quick mixing but there's more people happy than upset so I just have to roll with that. I don't think this is market specific either. I know DJs all over the United States (and a few in other countries) and they all quick mix. Again, it's still just a general rule and must be executed properly. It's not about just taking a song, playing the first verse, chorus then out.
Dude!!!! I am doing my FIRST gig this weekend (2 actually) I have NEVER DJ'd EVER! Yes - I am going out w a vet and just watching but ....
I am a musician. I grew up watch my father (band leader / MC) - I am all about the MC part - but spinning don't know crap.
YOU ARE AMAZING. Your quick mix video - I would (not knowing crap) thought every objection your subs raised was right - until ... you shut every single one down!!! So smart - so f-ing right. You're a GD monster. Truth be told - I really only was into the MC aspect. Then I see the freaking vibe you create. Holding people in the palm of your hand - getting them completely off! I know music is magic. THAT IS A FACT. And you are a wizard! I will rock this biz. I just know I will - but a good part of my success will be because I rode your coattails. What a damn pro you are!
What a great response to this issue! I trust and feel what you are saying. I realize I started doing it the right way subconsciously and let other people tell me to only quickmix if its a bad song. I realize now a few moments of bad programming made people come up and say that to me while DJing live. But this put it all in perspective. Thank you!
At the end of the Day #KnowYourMusic. And eventually you will learn how to use it on a deeper level at a gig.
I basically never quick mix, I don't play the actual whole song because I am mixing but I don't just play chorus verse chorus cut. I find if people are singing along with the music and you cut them off repeatedly you just piss them off. The only time I do is when it's peak time and there's only an hour to go and there is still a lot of requests to get through, I'll quick mix to keep the energy up and keep everyone happy by playing at least a part of their 'special' song.
Lol that into splash screen! Amazing! I am definentely a non quick mixer. I can quick mix but only for hot hot moment during a "dance session" during a wedding! People for the most part like to enjoy the music especially during a slow dance floor. Quik mixing is essential for the club DJ - especially commercial high volume clubs with a young clientel.
The energy of the quick mix is just at another level
You know what’s funny? Me and my brother were one of the first to mix house music/techno on 4 tables with a bunch of innovative ideas nobody had ever really heard except for on studio produced mix tapes with slick intros and all that. Now, because we had 4 turntables we were really able to perform those intros on the fly live. Especially years later when Serato came out, it was great to prepare tracks, get them ready, cue buttons etc….people loved it. We made an entire DJ career quick mixing. We’re talking about 80 tracks played in some form or fashion in a 45 min set. This wasn’t like wedding music or pop music, so the rave and club kids are a different breed. Even in my older years when I started doing Corp gigs for Pepsi that paid very well, I played extremely conservatively. Weddings, same thing. You actually have brides and grooms handing you payment or cash or whatever at the end of the night and it’s a different thing to get paid by them where they’ll let you have it if you sucked, rather than an invisible “huge corporate entity” big company exec, you’ll prob never meet again. Ever.
80 songs in 45 minutes ? Was it a gathering of people stoned with ADHD ?
how do you select the parts you want to mix in? how do you do what your saying?
Really good nuggets in here while I'm currently learning the art of quick mixing. Thanks Nick!
Do you have any tutorials on how to quick mix?? I’m interested!
If I notice that a song isn't well received, I'll mix in a transition more quickly. But for songs like 'Everybody' by the Backstreet Boys, for example, I'll let it play through.
This video is timely. BSR just put out a video of him going down a list of most requested songs from 2010-present. It bummed me out because he kept glossing over songs that he's played once or twice and that no one liked it. It sounded like how my dad talks about the music he doesn't like... I mean- almost all the songs he mentioned, I've quick mixed a verse and it goes well across different ages and backgrounds. I mean- I could see how people could get bored hearing the whole song, especially a new song. Different strokes, I guess?
Everything Nick is saying is for sure correct as a general rule.
I feel too many people focus way too much on exceptions to rules, and then try to die on that hill…
Gospel man, Quick mixing is a total learned skill. if you can’t do it confidently where it makes sense to listener, you’re not going to have a positive result. I could do it in the past but made a point To use the covid year to level up and work on those skills. The frequency of events this year being absolute ragers has been noticeable. It’s what people want, it’s more fun for you as a DJ and it will positively impact your business .
NICK SPINELLI IS THE BEST!!!
KEEP IT UP NICK!
THANK YOU!
People that can’t quick mix and keep a crowd hype are hating this video 🤣
I do both, I can mix quick or I can play the whole song, I know how to keep my crowd.
It’s all about crowd reaction and knowing what to play and when.
where i live quick mixing all night at a wedding or wedding related party (called a social) will get you removed & never hired again.. its been like this for the 20 years ive dj'd here.. for me theres a time & a place & also a crowd (which is the younger less attention span) crowd (we all have shortened ours over the years) i have a.d.d & mix most of the song, but i also beatmatch as i now play rave shit. no quick mixing there, all long mixing. newer music needs to be mixed out quick. some guy mentioned that quick mixing was forged in the clubs... well hes wrong! it comes from hip hop. underground mixmasters brought it to nightclubs when they would perform there.. then it became more normal in the clubs... but ONLY in select markets.. here its mostly still long mixing.. but like was also said, no one goes to a wedding to see the dj. we are the lowest on the totem pole there. play to your crowd, make that money rockin them & get out!
Excellent analysis and advisory comments. To 'quick mix' takes focus and practice. I've been at this trade since 1977 and what works for me at the core is this Nick: "You cannot LEAD the crowd if you cannot READ the crowd." Combined with song knowledge, intuitive thinking and your imagination . . . figure out segue techniques that WORK! . . . from smooth blends to powerful, well timed drop mixes. I like your your aggressive fast moving approach Sir Nick. Sincerely Portland DJ Dan
I have an idea! Why don't all of you DJs who are not sure wether your clients want full songs played or only 1 or 2 minutes of each song played before your mix out of it ASK YOUR CLIENTS HOW THEY WOULD PREFER YOU TO DJ THEIR EVENT??? I have this very question on my wedding planning form, and I even go into detail with the question. In my market, with my clients, NOBODY has told me to quick mix my songs. ONE COUPLE has told me they would like me to play 2 minutes of each song to get many requests in, but wanted me to play "the full songs" for their must play list. Every other client has told me that they would prefer to hear "Most of, or ALL OF" the song before I mix into the next one. I am in Maryland, and 75% of my weddings are in the D.C. or NOVA Market. Quick mixing seems to be much more popular in Jersey, and New York City etc. when it comes to weddings and private events. A Club is a different story.
I'm an old G also, Been doing it since 1983 and still doing it. Mixing is the way to go. You can touch so many people in the room by going through so many different genres of music. I feel like these guys that just want to play the whole song, the client might as well just rip some speakers and put Spotify up because that's what these other guys are doing. Back in the day if you could not dj you got booed off the turntables or nobody came to see you. People went to clubs to see that badass DJ. Keep doing what you doing brother.
Love how frank and real your vids are. You got a sub.
walk this way is a great transition track
i appreciate you for saying this phrase is false, if it works, dont change it
"If it ain't broke don't fix it" is such a false phrase that keeps people away from innovation and new discoveries in every area
Awesome Video, Nick!
Hi Nick, what DJ pool are you using? Specifically for the acapella out edits
Faster is the way to go. Certain situations call for more of the song (last song of a wedding for example). Just like anything else, the rule doesn't apply 100% of the time. There are always exceptions. Minus exceptions though, I am definitely on the side of faster. Makes for a better party.
Dropping gems Nick.. 🙌🏽
I’m 1 verse/1 chorus and I’m gone. If it’s a current banger, brand new song tearing up the charts I’m 2nd verse/2nd chorus. The only time I get dirty looks is when I’m cutting their favorite song short and mixing into a song they hate. No DJs should ever play the entire song during a live mix. Doing so will clear the dance floor.
So I have a gig next Saturday 53rd BD and I'm going to put together some quick mix songs and see how it goes. At the same time songs in my Motown and oldies sets are only about 2 minutes each to begin with so theres no point in that but classic rock and disco and 80's in addition to modern obviously might benefit from quick mixing in my parties.
Read the crowd, you'll notice the energy dip slightly midway through a song and it maybe time to mix out
Nick, do you make flips or edits to shorten the songs? You should make a video on your methods.
Only cut off paradise by the dashboard once in my life lol had to replay the entire song over again. Lesson learned years ago
Just organize your music so you have songs ready to mix in. Banger crate! Watch other DJs! Music is getting shorter anyways though. Most songs are 2min now especially Hiphop songs and also Spotify algorithms make producers make shorter songs.
Hey Nick how are you? Hope all is well. Love your videos I'm learning a lot from them. Thank you for all you do for the dj Community.
I love this guys commentary!! Makes me want to dj
The last bit about your info given when you go to a hired event about playin the best parts of a song...... says it all. I'm only a year in now and can say this.
If you're playing a song fully, you're a touch tunes.
Buenas tardes y saludos desde seville Me alegra escucharte Nick pensaba que era un incomprendido con las mezclas rápidas y muchas gracias por tus vídeos, porque nos ayudan a mejorar
As a DJ of 20 years I’ll say that DJ ADHD is right in this video 100%. Quick mixing is not just about mixing quickly, it’s about mixing EFFICIENTLY in a way that’s high energy. And efficiency means knowing your tracks, being prepped and practiced and knowing how to play them quickly. This is the difference between DJs who are performers and those who are just plain old running tunes.
Do you have any examples on SoundCloud of you only mixing literally 1 min of tracks all night you must go through 1000s of tracks over a 5 hours set??
nick if its not a track that has a dj friendly intro (ie 99 baloons go by) do you jump to the 1st verse or prefer to drop the first beat?
Definitely giving a better experience when you quick mix. I agree 100%
I agree with everything you said however I will say that playing some songs longer when people are really enjoying them is okay. Is DJ's we get really caught up into our ADHD mentality but the average audience is thinking a minute and a half to 2 minutes of every song not 30 seconds of every song. Granted I'm in Texas so the style is very different than the East Coast I know this because we have a franchise in Long Island. So I say this as a way to say that there are different crowds different strokes for different folks obviously and so take what this guy is saying with a grain of salt because it may not be as applicable to your region as it is to his. But I do agree that there is a ton of music out there and you can just keep it pushing.
Nick, would you quick mix at a bar or club because when I play Snoop Dogg’s Ain’t no fun (if the homie can’t have none) crowd sings the whole song, would you play the whole song?
I must say Nick is a DJ Genius I must say.💯
Great video. If just doing verse + chorus of two songs and are mixing them, what parts of the songs do you usually mix? Last 8 bars of the chorus + 8 bars before the verse on the incoming song.
On songs with strong intros, if going quick I generally echo out. Anything else you would do?
Thanks for all your help! Happy holidays! 🎄
There’s literally no way you can argue this. Well said. The reason why djs don’t do it is because of what you said “it takes time and it takes practice.” If djs don’t mix and/or quick mix is because of laziness flat out! We book so many events BECAUSE we mix and we charge more than everyone because we mix.
Love the confidence, that said if you are a mobile dj, your client and crowd will dictate your style of play. Love quick transitions, but if your Client doesn't want it, you have to be able to switch up your style. For example if your crowd is 21yrs to 32 quick transitions will probably work. If your crowd is 34- 45yrs old, they probably won't love a full night of quick transitions. I think the best policy is every style in moderation. Don't over use effects, don't over use quick mixing, and don't play every song all the way to the end.
You absolutely speak from experience!
also been a dj since WWII, keep learning, keep growing. Good stuff..
“your favorite band comes out and plays three songs… you’re gonna be pretty upset!”
well, i’m a jam band fan but i see your point😂
Im gonna be honest, I really don't like listening to quick mixing, I like listening to songs for 2 or 3 mins
From my experience - Quick mixing is especially important when you don't have a lot of people on the dancefloor. Don't want to get into analyzing it, but for some reason it absolutely helps to quick mix in that situation and it helps keep people on the dancefloor. Other than that, generally speaking - use your experience. You know which songs "die" on you if you leave them on too long, and which don't. So use your experience and blend - sometimes you quick mix, sometimes you don't. Case by case scenario. Obviously though be on the lookout if a crowd is crazy about a certain song - don't mix it out early, and one more critical scenario - if a song is really important to the married couple or whoever booked you for that event - do not cut it short. Important and interesting video regardless, thank you !
I'm 65.We want to hear the whole song.......like the juke box did. Going to your quick mix will work fine for the young ADD crowd......
Sorry Nick, but there are people who don't like quick mixing. All the reasons you've mentioned PLUS they don't like the quick mix either. Don't say that people DON'T get mad when that's obviously not true. Crowd read, yes. Didn't play the section they wanted to hear, sure. But that doesn't mean they only want a snippet of a tune. They're fickle so it all comes down to crowd reading energy.
I agree. I used to DJ like 10 years ago, When you quick mix you can get away with playing a lot of songs even if they’re old, you play the best part and move on to the next one. Only a few songs I played entirely.
Good content champ
I needed to hear this tips, great info and opinions Nick! 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Chill out DJ Prozac! Great video.
5:00 my other exception of songs to play (almost) in full is Prisencolinensinainciusol 😂
100% Facts! Edit songs, use duplicates to chop. QUICK MIX is HYPE mixing! Good stuff bro!
Good discussion! Highly recommend for other Djs to listen 🎧 to this show! Great content!
Yeah I honestly do the same thing..when is necessary..only if it's necessary..certain songs you let Play..until u find a exit out..let's move on..love you brother..One!!
Do you have or can you recommend any sets to listen to or videos to watch of quick mixing?. Its definitely something i want to get into. I feel young crowds especially get fed up with whole songs.
Keep up the good work
I wanna ask if you will still will quick mix it he party run for 6 hours and not 3. That's the way it happen in my country, so, in our case, wick mix is not so common, unless you have short timeframe space like 2 or 3 hours.
I would still quick mix. If the set is longer, I’d just need more songs
Here is my assessment on quick mixing: (1). it doesn't work on people that are older on the dancefloor, I say this because older people for the most part like older songs, they don't get to here these songs out at an event very often, so when their song comes on, they want the full experience. They want to hear the beat, sing all of the words that they remember and they actually get upset when their song is cut short. (2). Quick mixing works amazing for younger crowds, they have more of a TikTok mentality meaning their attention span is short. They want to hear the most famous part of the song, so in short they want one verse and one chorus and that's it. So with that said, my advise is when you have a mixed crowd of older and younger people on your dancefloor, keep this in mind, play older songs a little longer and play newer songs short. ***Click thumbs up if you agree, and thumbs down if you disagree***
Plus back in the day, you could quickly mix sounds with CD or Vinly. Today,
Technology makes it so very easy to quickly.
great tip ! That’s the beauty of being a great DJ , everyone has their own style which verse and chorus to mix, its like you’re making a whole new song , or writing a rhyme, you have to clever with how you put words together, Eminem said its like putting together a puzzle
It’s all about taking your guest on a musical journey. Quick mixing helps achieve this. Take for example Jive Bunny mix. Line dances are different though.
Quick mixer here except:
1. First dance at a wedding and
2. Sing along songs that are definitely BANGERS!
I don't hang around playing songs to the end 😂😂
I can quick mix , but as a deep house, melodic, etc. my mixes tend to be as long as I can (to make it smooth and not like cut and paste.
I get what you say, but you get me (I guess) Now there are songs that you have to play the whole song because the crowd wants to hear/sing it, but really out of respect for the song.
But in my type of songs, even if I long mix, they don't get to second or third verse (there isn't exist)
I agree with CT and NS
Question have you ever work black wedding
I quick mix 100% of my songs with the exception of some people favorites, that’s why must of us need to do our homework and see what the crowd loves on that city, specially if you are a regular DJ of that location you should know what to quick mix or not. If you are afraid of running out of music maybe you need to download more songs no need to ran out of songs nowadays we are not carrying records like back in the days