Comments on The Unlikely Salsero - Don Baarns: DJs and Bands: Give Me A Break!

I agree. Give me some notification that the song&#...

2011-05-09T14:24:19.689-07:00

I agree. Give me some notification that the song's over.

But on the other hand, when I've got a partner that I've been dying to dance with all night and the band is sitting there talking for several minutes it just makes me want to yell "Just play will ya."

#Michael: That is not so easy. I don't think d...

2011-04-09T22:36:06.967-07:00

#Michael: That is not so easy. I don't think doing it is such a problem but HOW you do it is the key.

If it's only once song, my gut says finish... (especially for the guys).

IF you stop and they are mixing multiple songs, the next time the tune changes you use that as a break point.

She did accept your invitation to dance. So I'd want to respect that and make the break as graceful as possible. "I appreciate the dance, this is so long I don't want you to get bored..."

I've don't have a great plan for getting out in the middle, but I'll think about it and maybe someone else will have a better suggestion.

What do you do if you end up in a song with a part...

2011-04-07T20:11:27.015-07:00

What do you do if you end up in a song with a partner that doesn't enjoy it and both of you are trying to get that knife out and slit the wrists? You just don't have that connection.. Are you being rude walking away in the middle of the 'mix'?

Daniel makes a good point - and I think a lot of D...

2009-01-30T02:58:00.000-08:00

Daniel makes a good point - and I think a lot of DJs are scared of leaving any gaps as if it is sign of professional failure or it might break the mood of the club. This might be true in a conventional night club - but gaps and silences are part of the music too, the dynamic and emotional ranges of salsa music are much greater than conventional night-club music - the DJ needs to respect this.

My preference is for several seconds of silence between tracks. There is a moment of post-dance pleasure during which you can smile and thank your partner, maybe walk her back too (if you are a gentleman) and find someone for the next dance in a relaxed manner. If there is little or no gap you are forced to rapidly dump your partner and grab someone else quick before you miss out altogether and have to sit out. Dancing twice with the same partner is the exception and even then, you need a gap to part amicably at the end of the second dance.

I've done quite a bit of DJing, mostly just as a h...

2009-01-29T17:09:00.000-08:00

I've done quite a bit of DJing, mostly just as a hobby.

As far as salsa goes, I do not mix tracks, although I do have virtually no gap between one song and the next...just because the silence annoys me (it makes it seem like the DJ or Band isn't properly prepared). I do try to make it as clear as possible though that a new song is beginning: I tend to vary styles quite a bit. I do mix bacahta and merengue on occasion though, but those are just salsa breaks anyway. ;-)

It probably is best to have a little gap to give people a chance to get off the floor and find a new partner (although I personally like to know what song I am dancing to first, since certain songs are better suited for certain kinds of people).

One of my biggest pet peeves though is being robbed of my dramatic ending. =P Its so awkward too when you know it just switched to a new song, and you aren't sure if you should keep going or not.

Hi Don! I agree with your post 100%!!!! Bravo!
...

2009-01-29T13:36:00.000-08:00

Hi Don! I agree with your post 100%!!!! Bravo!

I am a dancer first, Salsa DJ second & I play for the dancer!! When it comes to Salsa music, I am purist.

If we're playing good danceable salsa, we don't need to mix it, stomp on it, or tweek it! The musicians have done a great job with the music - just play it!

DJ Latin Leprechaun
Greg Fitzpatrick

Joe,

Great point. I forgot about that one.....

2009-01-29T10:17:00.000-08:00

Joe,

Great point. I forgot about that one... We hear the ending coming, and the DJ stomps on it by starting the next song. Just let it finish and THEN start the next tune.

Yes - completely agree too. A short pause between...

2009-01-29T06:46:00.000-08:00

Yes - completely agree too. A short pause between each dance is essential - that is the nature of salsa - it is not a rave where people dance without a break for a long time.

Further related point is to properly play the intros and endings - this is part of the dance too - there is nothing worse than lining-up a beautiful graceful ending to a dance, only to have the last few bars rudely truncated with the blasting opening bars of the next song. Grrr.

I couldn't agree more.

I also hate when DJ'...

2009-01-28T04:53:00.000-08:00

I couldn't agree more.

I also hate when DJ's mix out a slow part in the middle of the song, or a nice ending to a song. This robs me from the possibility to dance "in" the music, instead of only loosly coupled to the rythm the music provides. The whole concept of musicality is under pressure.

(/rant off :-) )