Long sets vs short sets approach.
Everyone knows that I much prefer playing longer sets and in a perfect world I’d play them every time, but short sets allow for multiple line ups on bigger events such as festivals, so I have to approach each one with a completely different mindset.
Playing a longer set is much more than just playing more music, the gift of the extra time allows me to settle in the environment that I’m playing, I’m absorbing the dynamics of the sound system, figuring the sweet spot of the frequency range that the speakers react too along the acoustics of the room and how reflections effect the sound, phasing etc. All these factors can make a massive difference upon how I approach and tackle mixes, for example I could have played a track the previous night in a different club and the low end punch was phenomenal, yet the next night the same track didn’t sound so punchy and vice versa with other tracks. Different manufactures sound systems, size of cones, angle of speakers, acoustically or none treated rooms, phasing reflections all play their part in changing the dynamics of the sound,
no matter what key the track is in, it will sound/react very differently on each set up, so I have to learn, absorb and process all this information as I’m settling in the first 30/60 mins of my set, all this along with getting into DJ mode reading the dance floor and figuring what track to play next.
I have a hell of a lot going on in the DJ booth, I pride myself on smooth mixing and unfolding musical journeys, all this technical stuff plays a huge part in this and I use the dynamics of each situation/sound/phasing/flaws etc and turn them into an extra tool/asset to use while mixing to create energy shifts.
When it comes to shorter sets, typically 60/90 minutes at a festival, I somehow have to process all the technical stuff within the first couple of tracks, quickly figure whats going on with the sound etc. I also go into DJ mode way before I step up to the turntables, I find a space hidden away from everyone as not to get disturbed so that I can get into my own space/zone watching the crowds reaction to the DJ before, then try and figure what direction to take things and how to start. None of my sets are ever planned, impromptu sets give me the thrill, adrenaline and buzz of actually playing live, one wrong musical move can cost dearly, I love that buzz of watching the dance floor and winning them over.
The first 10/15 minutes of these sets are critical, you need to win over the dance floors trust and keep them engaged with your set, track choice, sound, interaction are critical to this. The change over of DJ’s is typically the time when people head to other stages especially if they are following a planned program with friends, they may have gone to that stage to see the DJ before me, then move on, then new people will come and see me. There’s a lot of foot traffic going on and I’m studying and reading everything thats going on and it all happens quickly. Its super rewarding when I win over new fans, they had no plans to stay, but I kept them engaged and didn’t leave, in fact I have to work really hard to keep 1000’s of people in my grasp at festivals, where as typically most people will be there specifically to see me in a club playing a longer set, so you can see the dynamics are very different. Even with these shorter sets, it’s important for me to create a journey with twists and turns that builds to a crescendo and somehow make it all happen over a very short period if time, this alone is really challenging with everything going on.
I love both, both have me working extremely hard, especially those festival sets and why I still have my passion for being a DJ after all these years and still have so much more to give.
