…but you don’t have to.

Make sure to grab this single w/remixes by Roland Klinkenberg feat DJ Remy.

Another great minimal-tech release from the Global Underground label:

Mexico Can Wait Original Mix

Roland Klinkenberg, DJ Remy,

GU[MUSIC] (Global Underground) 2007-08-19

6:22

$1.98

Mexico Can Wait Tom’s Fluf Tool

Roland Klinkenberg, DJ Remy,

GU[MUSIC] (Global Underground) 2007-08-19

3:20

$1.98

The Skull’s “Enter The Skull”, is a lovely tech-ed out release from Get Physical’s Sub-Label Kindisch.

All four tracks are solid, perfectly moody, and very versatile. Make sure to peep this one folks!

All You Booty Shakers Original Mix

The Skull

Kindisch 2007-04-28

7:34

$1.98

Sensuella Original Mix

The Skull

Kindisch 2007-04-28

6:01

$1.98

Keep It Moving Original Mix

The Skull

Kindisch 2007-04-28

6:51

$1.98

Soundclash Original Mix

The Skull

Kindisch 2007-04-28

6:15

$1.98

I find it so interesting that as a dj you have to start off by opening nights for bigger and more established DJs and yet so few DJs actually know how to open properly.

Time and time again I walk into nights where other DJs are playing and, in typical dj fashion, I think ‘what is this DJ doing? He should be playing this track and not that one’. It is standard for all DJs to think that they can do a better job than whatever DJ is playing, I think it is part of human nature to think you have better taste in music than everyone else.

That being said, there are a few important “what not to do” points that an opening DJ should keep in mind when opening the night:

- Do NOT play tracks of the DJ/Producer that you are playing before. If you are opening for Dubfire DO NOT play any tracks that Dubfire produced or that he has been playing recently.

-128 BPM at 11:00pm is not acceptable when opening for a house dj. A DJ is suppose to read the crowd and play accordingly but the old industry rule is 124 @ 12pm. This means that you should not be playing anything too far over 124 bpm before 12pm. This is so that the headline DJ will have room to speed it up and bang it out if he wants.

-Just because you are playing the right speed (124 @ 12) does not mean that you can just pitch down big name tracks. Big peak time tracks are suppose to be played at peak time. A Richard Dinsdale track or anything that is usually played at 2am and at 128bpm is not opening music. There are always some exceptions to the rule but generally deep house, tech house and even some minimal make for great opening music. Here are some examples of opening music:

I Try AN-2 Remix

François DuBois, An-2,

Urbantorque Recordings 2007-05-14

5:40

$1.98

I Try Original Mix

François DuBois

Urbantorque Recordings 2007-05-14

7:51

$1.98

A Thousand Nights Original Mix

Gregor Tresher

Great Stuff Records 2007-07-30

7:39

$1.98

Seven of Nine Original Mix

Andrew Macari

Nordic Trax 2004-07-13

4:36

$1.48

What God Has Chosen Jimpster Dub

The Rock Solid All-Stars, Pete Doyle,

Defected 2007-04-29

6:52

$1.98

Strategy Original Mix

Joshua Heath

Salted 2007-07-24

7:06

$1.98

Warm, deep, and grooving tracks are what opening is all about.

-Do not hang around in the DJ Booth after the headliner has started playing. If you want to sit back and learn, cool! If you want to have a chat with him or her for a bit, also cool. Do not jump around, play with the eqs or the effects on the mixer or make requests when you are done.

-Do not let all of your friends hang around in the booth with the headliner. There is no reason for them to be up there. Bring them up, show them around, introduce them to whoever but after a few minuets lead them back down to the dancefloor.

-Ask the promoter and even the headlining DJ what style and tempo you should play. Ask the headliner when he is coming on what type of a track he would like to be left off with.

The ironic thing about this industry is that it is generally the DJs that know how to open properly that end up making their way to playing the peak time slots. If you want to be playing to big crowds at decent times, watch the pros, take my advice above and learn how to open.

Best of luck!

Two beautiful minimal techno tracks.

I’m not big on Patchouli or anything, but I recommend enjoying these under an equally beautiful twilight, and preferably in nature — or maybe that’s just me?

Homestop Welcome Original Mix

Repeat Repeat

Soma 2007-02-25

6:17

$1.98

Shinjuku Original Mix

Lazy Fat People

Wagon Repair 2006-07-20

6:38

$1.48