Help needed

[toucan]

I live in a remote corner of the South West of the uk and have recently done my first reggae night in the local pub. It went down a storm and I have been rebooked for every 4 months.
I now have a rival in the local town so I need to up my game and get a bit more modern, being a bit stuck in the mid 70's and early 80's.
I am looking for suggestions for tracks that people think would appeal to both a reggae loving audience and those just curious and turning up on the night. The sort of track that you just cant keep still to or cant help yourself singing along to.
I subscribe to emusic and napster so am able to download a fair bit.
Many thanks

[7]

If it aint broken!
Why change?Too many people playing 1990's and later not enough sticking to pre 1985 imo.You say it went down a storm so why not just elaborate on what you played with vocal and version etc.I suppose it all depends on the age of your audience but everyone can be educated!Where are you?Would be interested to know.

[toucan]

I suppose the answer is probably if I wanted to interest you in Beethoven then I could either do a classical evening when the chances of you turning up would be remote or I could do a pop evening, play 'roll over Beethoven' and then slip in a bit of the original.
Audience age is varied, 18-60. Get people dancing and having a good time and Thanks & Praise and Down Here In Babylon go down well. Just looking to get more interest from the youngsters.
I live in N Devon.

[AnorakTrev]

Try getting in touch with Bullit or Leggo rocker,they are currently " in the dance ",they might be able to help you out with recommended floorfillers etc.Don`t dilute your roots!!!

[donstrumental]

Are you a music educator or a people pleaser? you need to know what you stand for first

Respect

[bullit]

Indeed, Don is correct. Trevor, thanks for the mention.

Firstly, get down to your 'rival' remember in reggae, its not a war. Make the connection, go and see what style the guy is into and **communicate** with him/her. Your in a unique situation as your in a small town with few other events.

Remember its *not* a competition, your not there to out number the other, if your music choices are different then you will draw a different crowd, or the same crowd will come to you to find something they missed in the other DJ night.

Try not to have both nights on on the same day, this will allow the audience (which may be limited) to get to both gigs.

Form a relationship with the person doing the other night and even suggest working together, you could do guest spots on his night and he/she do guest ones on yours.

If this happens, suggest doing a tune each, or three tunes, change then you do three then change. This not only means that the audience gets the best of both selections but it almost gives a soundclash effect. What i love about doing this is that *we* **learn** so much, you get to know so many tunes as your always hearing new ones.

When i play music out, i find the 80s digital stuff goes down well with the ladies that love to dance, this gets the guys moving too; but i dont like to stick to it too long, mix it up; dont let them get too comfortable as you will lose the guys who like the more rootsy numbers, so drop that heavy tune in when their least expecting it, dub style.

Though there are sometimes when i barely play any 80s digi stuff, i just stick to heavy roots and dubs, it depends a little on what your soundsystem is on the night, some stuff just doesnt hit it without that nice bass.

Once your name is set, it wont matter so much what you play on the night as they will know what your capable of and will come back to see that style and if you have missed it, they'll be back hoping to hear ir another time but remember that so you dont get stuck in a rutt.

Samplers, sirens, delays, gadgets, if you feel like sprucing things up a little you could play about with thee, it'll take time to learn but they can be useful for mixing if you find it difficult.
I have some halarious samples i love to drop in at the beginning and occasionly in sets that make things fun.

One thing about reggae is that many can see it as quite serious, with a lot of religion and a lot of people find too much 'Jah' talk daunting so make sure you keep moving the vibes of the wording and rhythms moving and be **aware** of your audience when you put tunes on, see the reaction, **feel** their vibe.

Im rambling and have forgotten what i started with, i cant stress how useful it would be for you to go and see your 'rival' and try and make friends as fellow reggae DJ's are far too few.

Im very happy to answer questions on this one; where in North Devon, love that area of the world, im in Bristol and have many friends down there..

[leggo rocker]

Stick to the stuff you actually like yourself. The enthusiasm and love for that music will be infectious.

Then, just do what you do but do it a little better each time.

[toucan]

Thanks for the replies.
Donstrumental - I want to educate and please. Remembering school, if the lesson was boring you were less willing to learn.
Leggo - I only play what I like but there must be a lot of (probably more modern) stuff that I would like but dont know about it. I was asked to do this first night after starting off our charity fireworks display with Signal One!
Bullit - I do know my 'rival' as he was a friend of one of our children and often used to stay the night where he was subjected to reggae.

My main desire is to make the nights better, especially as I am quite amateurish. If we have a healthy 'rivalry' and strive to make each night better than the last then surely this can only be good.
I was hoping for suggestions from people as to what in their experience prove to be good floor fillers, or alternatively what people would expect to go down well. If I like any of these suggestions then I would use them.
Can see that I may have to travel west to a big bad city to go to one of bullit's gigs

[Guest]

I suppose the answer is probably if I wanted to interest you in Beethoven then I could either do a classical evening when the chances of you turning up would be remote or I could do a pop evening, play 'roll over Beethoven' and then slip in a bit of the original.
Audience age is varied, 18-60. Get people dancing and having a good time and Thanks & Praise and Down Here In Babylon go down well. Just looking to get more interest from the youngsters.
I live in N Devon.

if you looking good reggae tunes i would say:

Jah Cure / Fanton Mojah - Dem Nuh Build Great Man <- works for all ages, the whole riddim is not necessary but that tune is a must

Capleton - Jah Jah City + a few other tunes on same version it nuh matter which ones

Dennis Brown - more recent stuff especially jammys prod. young & old both love it

Richie Spice a few tune, have to listen which one yu like,

Buju Banton - Driver

Capleton - Artist Fight Artist same riddim as Buju

Everything by Mystic Revealers

Everything by Kariang label

and so on.

^^those are real authentics i play dem everywhere and pople love it no matter dey know reggae or not

[Guest]

one big authentic is:


Tyrone Taylor - Takee Me To The River

http://www.buyreggae.com/sounds/2/28421A.mp3

tune aint old but to me it a classic not different from other old school tune dem

*talkin bout this version. i dont know the tune but i think it a one relick already from a old tune