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Using the microphone to introduce yourself, or to make a statement of arrival, such as “Whaaaassuuuppp People…..’’ is a great way to break the ice with your audience and let them know you’ve taken control. As I am in Dubai, I often start with Hellow Dubai / Namaskaram (Malayalam word of Hellow) Dubai…
Depending on the scenario, you can use the opportunity to greet the birthday girl or boy, point out how amazing everyone looks, or perhaps comment on the beautiful weather if it’s a genuinely gorgeous day. Also, you may dedicate a track for all the beautiful ladies. 😋
A confident and charismatic vocal introduction sets the stage for an incredible day/night, creating anticipation and excitement among the crowd. It’s an easy win and a great place to start!
Next up, acknowledging individuals or groups in the crowd with personalized shoutouts is another useful tool in your tool kit. Such recognition adds a personal touch and makes the audience feel valued, fostering a stronger connection.
“Big shoutout to Mariah, celebrating her birthday 🎂 tonight! Let’s make some noise for her!”, could be one example.
Additionally, the DJ might communicate event logistics, such as drink specials or upcoming performers. “Don’t forget, folks, there’s a BOGO drink special offer at the bar until midnight!”
Just remember to keep your announcements concise and clear, allowing the music to remain the main focus. And don’t be scared to inject some humor into your announcements whenever possible.
Shoutouts in particular are also used on mixshows for people engaging on social media (which works better in real-time and for livestreaming), acknowledging comments like ‘’Shout-out to Dave The Rave who says he’s lovin’ the tunes’’.
Encouraging people to come forward with song requests and song dedications always perks ears up I find. I’ve historically done this early on in the evening when the dancefloor is relatively thin as a way to personalise the experience for smaller numbers.
Whilst it obviously depends on the scenario, I generally wouldn’t do it with a busy dancefloor.
Proceed with caution here, though, as song requests will inevitably cause problems. For example, people might request a track that would mess up the flow of the evening, or worse, intoxicated punters will abuse your attention.
With this in mind, always be firm, and consider using the disclaimer: ‘’I’ll try your best to include it if you can’’, or ‘’I’ll try to fit it in later’’ …particularly if they ask for the Jonas Blue.
Encouraging crowd participation can take certain DJ gigs to the next level. If the setting allows, you can ask the audience to sing along, clap, or even chant something.
Microphone games are great for this. A couple of classics, and pretty self-explanatory examples, include ‘Lyric Finish’., where the DJ plays a song and pauses it at a certain point, allowing the crowd to complete the lyrics.
When I worked in Spain, I would give away a free cocktail of choice for ‘Guess The Tune’, with the premise being: ‘If you think you know it stick your hand up’., then simply pause or turn down the music when a hand goes up.
You could even try to conduct a Dance-Off, although that’s probably more applicable for younger groups and parties.
Beyond the tacky hype phrases that ‘EDM’ DJs use, such as “put your hands up,” “make some noise,” or “let’s party” (yes, indeed, vomit! 🤮), these can be useful verbal cues to engage and energize the crowd.
DJs strategically insert these short, catchy statements between songs or during transitions to maintain the crowd’s energy levels, build anticipation, and prompt cheers, claps, or dance responses.
For me, one DJ that does this best, is surely house & techno legend, Carl Cox! Coxy has 3 or 4 go-to phrases. As examples, these include ‘’Amazing, Amazing’’, ‘’Fantastic, Fantastic’’ …and of course, ‘’Oh Yes, Oh Yes’’!.
As you see, it shouldn’t be too hard to make up your own versions!
Lastly, expressing gratitude and appreciation to the audience throughout your performance is another easy win. At the end of the night, in particular, you can finish with a simple “Thank you!” or “You’re all amazing!” …which always goes a long way.
By understanding the basics and incorporating these crowd engagement strategies, you’ll have the edge over 90% of other DJs that leave it to an afterthought. Not only that, mastering this skill will result in a substantial boost to your market value over time!
The microphone can be your secret weapon in captivating your audience. So don’t be afraid to experiment, practice, and let your creativity flow.
Best of luck, fellas!
Reach out to me via Instagram @karanjcliff
About the Author, Karan Joseph Cliff is one of the mainstream DJs in Dubai.
DJ Karan Dubai