Read the crowd!

The term read the crowd essentially means being able to comprehend accurately what the crowd wants at a particular time. You know precisely what music to play to give you the same response (energy) level as the crowd leaving them wanting more.

Reading the crowd starts before the party. Sounds insane, doesn’t it? Event themes like 70s party, 90s swing back, 40th birthday bash, graduation party, wedding ceremony, after-party and more are clear guidelines for the event music choice and people attending.

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After you drop your first tune, read the crowd carefully by watching out for their reactions when they are seated. If you notice heads nodding, positive body language and smiles, this is good. Just in case you observe people walking off the dance floor, using their phones, looking bored and not dancing, try changing your music selection until a few bodies start moving.

Reading body language is essential when learning how to read the crowd. Whenever you are before a crowd (old, young or a combination of both), take a good look at them.

Professional DJs consistently check out facial reactions from the crowd to see what sort of mood they are in; are they smiling, happy or unsatisfied? Are they reacting vocally, or mouths closed? By utilising this strategy, you have the option of cueing in an upbeat track for a better response that will keep the party going.

Now and then, you will come across a crowd that doesn’t give you any type of reaction, emotional feeling or participation that you want; what do you do? You test various tunes while you read the crowd for an ideal response. On the off-chance that despite everything no positive response after concentrating on popular and very familiar songs back-to-back, there is a possibility that this is exactly how the crowd is as long as the dance floor is full.

A DJ that doesn’t participate or interact with the crowd, or one that frowns and doesn’t smile or dance is regarded as a boring DJ. You need to be on the same energy level as the crowd. Nevertheless, not putting in a positive level of interactive effort kills the energy for the crowd. Look at them while you throw your hands in the air or when you bring down your fader volume down while they sing along to a popular/favorite song.

Some DJs will have the opportunity to speak on the mic to hype up a crowd. Make it short and look out for how the crowd reacts to hearing you talk. Some people just want to hear and enjoy the music, please don’t overdo this. You can also utilise a strategy known as push and pull. You gradually build the crowd up before giving them a major tune at the opportune time. Then you take it back down for a few tunes before building the crowd up again. People enjoy this and it will make them remember you and request your creative services again.

Furthermore, playing the ideal set on songs to the ideal crowd is something that will happen to DJs that go the extra mile by preparing ahead for events and put in the efforts to read their crowd.

My party pace pusher for this week is Fireboy DML – What If I Say