Djnyc Funk n' Soul, nyc dj

top 10 things to look for when hiring a dj

We've met a lot of people over the years doing different events and it's interesting that most people fear the part of hiring a dj, whatever kind of event it is, for the general perception the world has of djs. It's a warranted perception, especially when you go to a wedding or private party out on Long Island and hear the macarena blaring through the speakers and think to yourself, of all the music in the world, why do we hear these same 300 songs everywhere? (many of which are bad) 

For us we dj for fun and for our passion for music and feel that New York City is the ultimate place to dj because you meet so many different people with different tastes and thus get exposed to  a lot music you otherwise wouldn't.  It's also interesting to note that many people don't really want to spend anything over the minimum for a dj yet of any business in the world, the one to be most fearful about cutting corners when spending money is djing.  There are endless high school and college kids djing without insurance who put up a website and will undercut everyone. 

With that I'll add my two cents to the top ten things you should look for when looking for a dj:

1) Talk to them about the music you like, see what they know and don't know.
2) Make sure you meet them face to face if possible before hiring them and that it will be them at your event.
3) Make sure they are willing to take requests and customize the night for your guests (the worst is when you hire someone who is only comfortable with one or two genres and after 1/2 hour everyone is bored yet he or she doesn't know what else to try)
4) Make sure they have (and can prove) that they are insured

5) Try to find someone who has been doing it at least 3-5 years
6) If price is all you are going on and the person was not referred to you prepare to be disappointed.
7) Make they have a backup dj available and for larger events backup equipment
8) Give them a playlist and it's also fun to send your top 25 most played list from your ipod
9) Ask for references, if they can't provide any, specifically an event planner, don't hire them
10) Ask them what genres of music are their favorite to spin

Up next: Benjamin Hotel NYC

Generally this time of year we go on hiatus and don't really do that many gigs.  Like most djs we only do this on the side for fun and the winter months especially after the holidays is a good time to focus on other things.  We did schedule a few events for the winter and this weekend we'll be at the Benjamin Hotel for a private party.  It's 4 hours so like most we dj there will be a whole range of music including funk, soul, roots reggae, country, salsa, and some classic rock thrown in. 

Song of the day - Funky Reincarnation

Funky Reincarnation by Marvin Gaye is one of those nice soul gems you don't hear much.  This album has a couple different versions but the alternative version has the funkiest bass and drums.  You get the feeling Marvin was listening to Parliament/ Funkadelic at this time and wanted to try out a little of the space funk for himself.

A couple tracks from the Jan. 08 playlist

You can check them out here on Itunes!

djnyc top songs January 2008

Riding the subway a lot in the winter especially in New York City I tend to listen to more ambient, trip hop, electronic music. It's good as background music when you are drawing or reading the news and walking through the tunnels underground. Here are some of the top songs for this month:

1. High Up on the Hook - Alice Russell
2. Pop A Cop - Ben Watt
3. World Hold On - Bob Sinclar
4. Love Generation - Bob Sinclar
5. Aerodynamic Beats  - Daft Punk
6. The World Is Mine - David Guetta
7. Everybody Wants Some - Galactic
8. Gravity - Grayarea & Hybrid
9. Lightsonic - Groove Armada
10.  Intraspettro - Les Hommes
11. LDN - Lily Allen
12. Gbagada Gbagada Gbogodo Gbogodo - Luisito Quintero
13. Feel Good Inc. - Skye
14. Take a Giant Step - Taj Mahal
15. Crocodile - Underworld

Song of the day - Lily Allen

Lily Allen's LDN is a nice track, it has a nice beat and people sometimes ask who it is.  There are some other good tracks on Transmission as well like Littlelest Things.

Photos from Katra

Here are a few photos from the Katra event we dj-ed the other night. 

Eli's Bread E 91st Street

Here are a couple photos from a private party we dj-ed right before Christmas.  I didn't get a chance to take to many pictures because it was a busy evening, but a fun place to spin with excellent food and a nice space upstairs for parties. 

djnyc @ Katra this week

We'll be spinning at Katra this week for a private party. It will be a short set, but a whole variety of music, Morrocan, Bhangra, roots reggae, some London pop ala Phoenix and Lily Allen, trip hop along the lines of Federico Aubele, and of course some good old detroit funk and soul.