After this past weekend of playing down at the Firehouse in Sioux City, I've come to realize that no matter what newer tracks come out the classics are still the money makers for the dance floor. I always thought that I needed to put my old tracks to the side one night and just play hits from the last 2 years, see if I could keep the dance floor full. Well after this weekend I can say that the newer tracks are great for singing along to, but those 2000's hits are what keep the dance floors rocking. Friday I arrived down in Sioux City around 930 to set up for the night, it was cold and I was hoping that would have a positive affect on the evening. So far, my hoping was just that hope. The night was steady but never really got full, I guess most people figured that they would stay inside and stay warm. It was the perfect time to test out my theory, I played everything from 2016 on in hopes to keep myself sharp, and test out what newer tracks worked or didn't. There were people dancing throughout the night, but what I noticed most was drinks in the hand and lips singing along to the songs. Now, with any experiment I have to take into account a number of things.
Crowd
Temperature
Day
Usually on Fridays a lot of places aren't as busy as on a Saturday because people with work Saturday morning. So staying out all night, and getting hammered isn't on the list of things to do when acting responsibly. I had to look out at my crowd, those that were in their early to mid 20's were bopping around a little bit, but mostly kicking it with their friends, pausing to recite a popular phrase or line in a song. People that were in their late 20's and higher were the ones on dance floor two stepping to the beat and enjoying the music regardless of what was playing. So staying current was the goal and it was panning out as long as something familiar was blaring through he speakers. I couldn't seem to get the dance floor full with all of the newer tunes, yeah people were singing along but as a DJ my greatest fulfillment is having a packed, sweaty dance floor. Saturday I decided to try and keep things a little more old school, late 90's early 2000's. You know the era of Usher, Ludacris, Justin Timberlake, and of course Missy Elliot. I couldn't keep people off the dance floor it seemed. yes there were times when it dwindled down and people were out buying drinks and having some conversations, but there were more people who wanted to dance. I even played songs like the cupid shuffle and cha cha slide, I couldn't believe that they were hits in a club. Almost felt like a wedding. This just proved to me that even though the song selection was way outdated, the tracks were still club worthy. They had a beat that made you want to dance, party, get close to somebody and vibe. I'm not criticizing the newer generations choice in fine music, i'm just taking observation in saying that maybe some of the newer guys need to rethink and get back into the things that make you want to get out on the dance floor.
Mo Bamba - Sheck Wes
Nonstop - Drake
MIA - Bad Bunny Ft. Drake
Lose Control - Missy Elliot Ft. Fatman Scoop, Ciara
Always and Forever - Chocolate Puma
