Outdoors in Leighton Buzzard

Gig Review: A DJ's Journey Through Time and Tunes

Booked for a whopping 9-hour DJ marathon at a welcome home party, I found myself in a musical playground with a very loose remit. The upside? Freedom! The downside? The pressure of pleasing a crowd that knows me from my glory days at a club from 2004-2008. But fear not, dear reader, I had a plan! With a crowd full of familiar faces, I knew they’d be craving R&B, Hip Hop, UK Garage, and Dancehall. As a rule, I theme my private gigs around 3 genres and sprinkle in other genres to test the waters. On this occasion, House and Drum & Bass were going to be the sprinkle. Though I must admit, I was a little shocked to find that I played a fair bit of House towards the end, with zero D&B. A first for me! The power of 'Incredible' or 'Original Nuttah' towards the end of the night when energy is flagging can really give your sets the boost they need.

Late Arrival & Last-Minute Setup

I rolled up to the gig a cool 20 minutes later than intended. With multiple setups to tackle for this outdoor bash, it was a race against time to get the beats pumping by 3 PM, just in time for the lady of the hour to arrive. Miraculously, I had music flowing by around 2:50 PM (Luther Vandross - 'Never Too Much' to be exact) all while the marquee was still being erected to shield my beloved decks from the sun’s wrath. Seriously, folks, don’t DJ outside without protection for your gear—sunburn is not a good look for viny/plastic dj equipment or my emerging bald spot! With about 50 party-goers in attendance, I spotted some faces from 20 years ago, which warmed my heart. I kicked things off with some 80s classics, knowing the older generation was already vibing.

Unexpected Requests & Delightful Surprises

Then came the plot twist! An older gentleman, probably in his 70s and sporting a snazzy shirt, approached me with requests from Dr. Dre's iconic album, *2001*. Kendrick Lamar 'Swimming Pools' and Wu-Tang Clan. Talk about a surprise! I loved his taste but gently reminded him that spinning x-rated tracks at 3 PM with kids running around might not be the best idea. Usually I say 'Not right now' but today, probably by the genuinely warm reception from the hosts Sam & Paul - I was in very good spirits, I made sure I complimented his song choices, told him some favourites of mine from those albums and those artists, and that while I would definitely play them, it would have to be a bit later, (Protect the children haha) We spoke about how we were both big lovers of music, he told me he was mad into Hi-Fi and vinyl, and I explained I love songs that are samples of old time hits, some times the hits are samples of the hits of the hits. We had a good chuckle and I told him this is an open discussion, if he wants to come back i am here. He took it like a champ and kept the requests coming, which kept our conversations lively throughout the night. It’s always a joy to see people’s feet tapping and to catch those big smiles as they soak in the tunes. At a pool party, you have to start low-key before descending into full-on feral fun, and boy, did we get there by the end of the night!

Lighting the Night & Reading the Crowd

Around 8 PM, as the sun started to dip below the horizon, a familiar face from my personal training days asked if I could turn on the lights. I hesitated—after all, it didn’t seem dark enough yet. But the moment I flipped the switch, a flock of women descended to the dance floor. Apparently, my marquee shelter had dulled my sense of ambiance. As a DJ, you’re supposed to read the crowd, but let’s be real: that doesn’t always go smoothly. When someone comes over to request a song, I often assess what’s currently spinning and predict their request. It can be a bit of a car crash, especially if I’m riding the Dancehall wave and someone suddenly asks for Cyndi Lauper. Do I go for it & risk killing the dancefloor? There’s absolutely nothing wrong with Cyndi, but energy levels are everything! In this setting, most requests were pretty safe. I smoothly transitioned into tracks like Burna Boy and Bad Bunny (a recurring theme), and even played J Hus— songs I play but are not requested. 'Im in love with the coco' also made an appearance *No Broke Boys*, a fresh hit, also made the cut.

Conclusion: The DJ Life

The key takeaway? Keep your tunes up to date, play to make the women dance, and most importantly, enjoy yourself! I clocked an impressive 21,000 steps that night, all while smiling and thanking my gracious hosts, giving the DJ pancakes and Dominos Pizza is always appreciated, a simple offer of a glass of water keeps your DJ happy - I am grateful the hosts took care of me. And let’s not forget the delightful bottle of champagne they gifted me—cheers to that! So, here’s to more gigs filled with nostalgia, unexpected requests, and the sweet sound of happy feet on the dance floor! 5 Stars from me! My next private gig is at my favourite venue - BBC Elstree Studios, its a 60th Birthday and the Birthday Girl has picked EVERY SINGLE TUNE, a complete first for me, stay tuned to see how that goes.