Definitely have heard worst playlists from DJs than Mario's prerecorded playlist.
Why some DJ's don't check wether dancers like their songs ? Should we help them ?
- Thread starter salsita1
- Start date
Don't think I've ever heard fast Cali style salsa in his social. If he includes someone like Grupo Niche it's at a pace that is moderate. For all I know, he might have 20 playlists that he just rotates. He even includes chachas in his playlist.
I think what a GOOD DJ can do is pretty much irreplaceable by a playlist. It's the passion & knowledge that goes into the curation of sets. The best DJs know the music and have a role in educating the dancefloor and exposing people to different artists & songs. That is so valuable, but imho isn't appreciated much.
However, enough salsa dancers are happy dancing to whatever as long as you can dance to it so there isn't that community pressure on quality control you'd get in a more music genre focused scene where the audience demand a high level of music knowledge and 'good taste'. Salsa DJs tend to stumble upwards, they don't necessarily have that knowledge of the music, and often it's a sideline for teachers or performers.
Maybe a DJ curated playlist could be a good second, but you still lack that live response.
Anyone whose browsed most of the 'salsa' playlists on Spotify etc that aren't specialist or music fan curated ( Fania records has some good ones) knows they are largely uninspiring yo borderline terrible.
However, enough salsa dancers are happy dancing to whatever as long as you can dance to it so there isn't that community pressure on quality control you'd get in a more music genre focused scene where the audience demand a high level of music knowledge and 'good taste'. Salsa DJs tend to stumble upwards, they don't necessarily have that knowledge of the music, and often it's a sideline for teachers or performers.
Maybe a DJ curated playlist could be a good second, but you still lack that live response.
Anyone whose browsed most of the 'salsa' playlists on Spotify etc that aren't specialist or music fan curated ( Fania records has some good ones) knows they are largely uninspiring yo borderline terrible.
RandomBeat
Changui
I can't speak for other countries but this just doesn't work in the UK. While it's normal for nightclubs have an entry charge, bars & pubs in general don't and the concept of a cover charge for entry and drink just isn't in the national psyche. Promoters have tried this, set up drink and food deals but it takes the price up to a point dancers aren't willing to pay.
I guess my contention is with prerecorded vs playing on the spot. A person with a good inventory of music and understanding of the clientele and music, I feel can put together the same prerecorded playlist they play at a party live most of the time.
On the rare occasion where Jimmy Bosh walks into a party and you want to play one of his songs or a contingent from Cali Colombia walks in and you want to play something from their music, I can see where live input could add value. But those are anomalies, IMO. Generally speaking, a "good salsa DJ" can put together the same prerecorded playlist as on the spot.
One might argue that they might even put more thought into a prerecorded playlist while others might argue that a live DJ allows for real time adjustments (e.g., no one danced to the chacha so I won't play chacha again). However, I don't see this as a big deal. Most of these DJs seem to play 80% the same songs anyway at large events. For smaller/regional events things might be different.
Now, back in the day when you had house music DJs mixing or hip hop DJs cutting and scratching and interaction between the DJs/MCs and the crowd, live was obviously better. But in salsa all I need is a good playlist.
They charge at the Bar on Mondays where Tony plays. I don't mind though.
Not at our socials. We have different DJs come and play as guest DJs. Also the local DJs take pride in finding danceable music that the dancers might not have heard. If two DJs are playing, they usually know what type of music the other DJ would have played. We don’t get same song played twice. I often marvel at the skills DJs have to keep the crowd dancing. I have discussed with the DJs how they arrange the music, how they select the music, etc. It was clear they had put in at least a couple of hours effort to prepare for 2 or 3 hour set.
DJs adjust music in real time to match the crowd on the dance floor. A good DJ can really make your night and they do. A good pre-ordered playlist is inferior to a good DJ.
May be places or venues that don’t have good DJs can’t understand the value of one.
Local DJs are consistent. Their sound is different at socials than when they might play at a club. Which means they understand the crowd.
I haven’t been in Europe after covid except for a couple of festival. There are some DJs there who are good at keeping the crowds in its feet. Some of them have played at SF-SBK and not disappointed.
I doubt at the socials with high level of dancing, the people will show up if there is no DJ.
I have said this several times. I was there dancing for one night in shortditch where Tony played. His music was fairly good and it reminded me of the music played at our local socials.
I don’t know what gets played in London at other socials, but Tony is pretty good.
We always had a cover charge irrespective of whether it is a bar/club or a studio. Still do. A few bars/clubs will also have live salsa music band. Organizer took all the money from the cover charge. People bought drinks at the bar and bar kept all the money. Sometime bar would share 1/3rd of its earnings with the organizer.
It takes time to build loyal patronage when running a bar/club. Salsa dancing is on the weeknights. Organizer or Promoter is responsible for bringing in the crowd. Most salsa dancers are moderate drinkers if at all. Therefore the bar/club needs patronage from drinkers. Many drinkers will come because the place is lively. They get entertained watching the packed dance floor.
With a significant Latino population in many states and most non-Latinos aware of salsa, the USA metros have unique advantage. They get patronage from both dancers and non-dancers.
I love Tony! Not been in too long, ime he plays much more dura than most in London which is why I like him, aligns with my taste more. He does tend to have a romantica section towards the end of the night through but that's my key to have a sit down for a bit
Well-known DJs not only stand for special music but also attract special dancers. I recently went to a first time festival and all information I knew was the DJ list. The mambo DJs attract the best on2 dancers. So although DJ John Doe or a playlist might put similar music, I wouldn't travel far for a no-name DJ because I know others also wouldn't. So having a dozen DJ celebs is good because it attracts the good dancers I want to meet.
Also the DJ booth is where stars and starlets meet. Maybe AI will soon put similar good music, but hopefully people will less likely gather around an empty music booth.
This isn't always a case. In my experience, good DJs don't attract good dancers. The events that have good dancers usually spreads by word of mouth and positive endorsements, which is a well coordinated effort among good social dancers mostly. IMO, promoters, artists and DJs can help patronise events but their influence is overstated quite a bit.
I agree that good dancers go where other good dancers are to be found. However I don’t know any place that has lousy music but good dancers.
Closest club to my place is 5 minutes away. It has salsa two or three nights a week. It has only played from playlist for last 20-30 years. You will only find beginners there and hardly any good dancers. It is like the people who go there don’t know what good salsa dancing is. Not till they go to other salsa venues. The playlist today still is same as 20 years back. Same salsa songs (mostly romantica) and same dozen merengue songs.
We have more than a dozen local salsa bands. Certain salsa bands would attract 2x the size of normal crowd. DJs too I have seen make a difference. For people to keep coming back you need to have music that inspires people to dance. And who provides the music?
For example elevator salsa if played at our socials will mean death of social. People will stop coming.
Festivals is a slightly different beast. The dynamics are different and it is one time. Socials repeat every week or month. They survive depending on how dancers patronize it.
I need to find these DJs because I've danced in Europe, Caribbean, Central America, South America, Asia and the USA and haven't found a so-called salsa DJ that was that much better than a good prerecorded playlist. I remember asking a well traveled salsera recently who she thought was the best salsa DJ in Washington, DC and she said "her car." Can you name some of these great salsa DJs that make these real time adjustments?
I think knowing a certain DJ that plays music you like is an attraction to attend an event and also the converse. Also, some DJs are part of the in-crowd so they attract those folks that think they are the cool crowd at salsa events. I've been to events where they show the DJs on a big screen like they are doing a performance.
I've been to his new spot and the old one on Mondays. People applaud at the end of the night. It's not only the music. It's a vibe. People know the more advanced dancers and dancers from out of town will show up.
I am a DJ and sometimes I play songs I know the local crowd loves but for some reason there is few people dancing. In that situation the next song will be a hit, and it usually fixes the problem but if the hit doesn't fix it I will play 2 or 3 songs I believe most people wont dance then will play a hit, that usually makes everybody jump out of their chairs and fixes the energy for the rest of the set.
Hope this makes sense.
BTW: I don't mind requests but some people don't understand the vibe. This week a foreigner asked for Marcarena.
Hope this makes sense.
BTW: I don't mind requests but some people don't understand the vibe. This week a foreigner asked for Marcarena.