SALSA DJS AND THE MIXING OF SALSA
I go to Los Angeles quite often, and I am so impressed by the DJ's there. I wish
I could take all the DJ's in Utah over there so they can see how good they are. By this
I am not saying that the DJ's in Utah suck, all I am saying is that there is a lot of
things that everyone can improve upon. And since L.A. has been playing Salsa longer, there
is definitely some good stuff that our DJ's could learn.
When I was there, I couldn't help but notice that going Salsa dancing in Los Angeles is
amazing, they are playing 6, 7, 8 Salsas in a row and then one or two Merengues or Cha Cha's,
then again they come with some blasting Salsas. I've died and went to heaven I thought!. Not
just that, but they make sure they play the hardcore Salsas too!
The harcore Salseros usually go early in the night, unlike here where they show up late in the
night. So their stradegy is to play a lot of heavy Salsa at the beginning, and then when the
drinkers come later on, then they start playing a bit less Salsa, ONLY A BIT LESS! they never
play more than two or three Merengues or Cha Chas or other stuff. Now days there is just more
of a demand for Salsa than Merengue or other type of social dancing in Los Angeles. If at
any moment you go to a club, or latin event, you'll know what I am saying.
I started to talk to some people down there, this includes some famous DJ's down there
too. They were explaining how they get the night going, and how they do follow certain procedures
to make Salseros happy. So Utah DJ's, ready for this???
They "ALMOST" NEVER mix Salsa music!
It's something that "SOME DJ's" (not all, but some at some point) are Mixing Salsa Music
from One Song to Another...
And after talking about and researching the subject I tell the DJ's here in Utah:
"PLEASE, PLEAAAAASE DON'T MIX SALSA!"
Or at least limit it to a certain amount...
If you were a dancer, you would understand, leave the Salsas Alone!
Imagine this, you are dancing this blasting Salsa song. Your partner is just great,
he/she understand leading and following perfectly. It's one of the best songs you ever heard
by the way. You are in a turn and you know you'll go into a CBL soon, and after that a turn
and a perfect dip to complete the piece... not just that, but you know it will go exatly
to the count of the song too! You get ready, you did the run, and you created the perfect
CBL, and are turning into the fabulous dip. When all the sudden you notice that the DJ has
just changed the song into another one that is in the middle of it! All that music
accentuation lost. You are both very dissapointed, and are unsatisfied with the DJ.
This problem happens too often here in this state. I am not saying that the DJs here in
Utah are bad, all I am saying is that is always good to learn from people who have more
experience than you. We all know that DJs in Los Angeles have been playing longer than DJs
here, so it is always good to follow what is successful. So after all that introduction,
here... Djs, listen up. This is for you!
STAY CONSISTENT
Remember that dancers like to go to a place where they'll play their type of music. So make
sure you set your days of the week consistantly to keep them coming back for more.
It feel awful after you got ready, you get in the club and are ready to get your Salsa Fix,
and you find out that the night has moved to another night. So stay consistent.
LET THE ARTIST COMPLETE HIS PIECE
Remember that dancers live for the music. They are artists, trying to express themselves
with the music. You need to give them that, the song is their canvas and they are painting
it with their moves, steps, dips, tricks and so on.
If you don't let them complete their piece of work, then it is like taking candy from a baby
right before the sweet bottom gets to be chewed on. Let them finish their work of art.
MIXING AFFECTS THE DANCERS
You need to make sure you remember that mixing does affect the dancers in ways you probably
never thought.
- It makes dancers uncomfortable because they have to stay with the same partner because the
song is not ending.
- It confuses the dancers because they don't know if the song is starting or is in the middle
or maybe it's about to end.
- Makes them uncomfortable when they stop dancing in what seems to be the middle
of the next song.
- It doesn't give you those extra precious seconds to walk off the floor, talk to
your partner, thank them for the dance, take a breather, drink a sip of water and so on.
- It makes dancers angry who live for that little extra dip to complete their master piece.
- Does an injustice to the musicians who created the song.
TAKING A BREATHER
The little time that you have between songs is very important to a dancer. They take
that time to exchange thank yous to their partners, they look for new partners, take
time to rest, take time to drink some water or other, look for friends, and so many
more things. If you mix it then you are taking all those things away from them, things
that they appreciate a lot.
SUGGESTING THE DJ
I know that dancers do put up with a lot of stuff, bad floors, gross bathrooms,
bad neighboorhoods but I know that Music and DJing is one of the most important things
they will not put up with. I'v seen places that are so nice, perfect floor, nice
building, the cleanest bathroom, but because of the DJ and music selection, they
go broke.
So it's nice to suggest a DJ in a very appreciative way. The DJ is a cheff of music, you must
respect and suggest what you would like to entice your ears. It is always good to give DJs compliments,
specially when they are doing an excellent job. If the DJ is not always playing what you want, it is
always good to go with a possitive remark and then the suggestion, after all... He/She IS the DJ! and
you are ONLY A DANCER! (yeah!). So it's good to take a drink with you and give it to the DJ, and always suggest
it in a nice way what you would like. A drink may not always be good, but it is good to make them feel
appreciated.
DON'T MISSUNDERSTAND
I am not in any way say to stop mixing all together. But instead limit the amount of songs that you know
will be mixed really, really good... with no exception!
Salsa is the type of music that needs an ending, specially for the dancers. Some people may not agree and
may think that all songs can be mixed, which in fact is true. If you are an excellent DJ, then you can
mix any song that is in your way. But that doesn't mean that the dancers want all their songs mixed.
It is good to mix some, but the majority of the dancers love their songs to be left alone. Mixing is good
but to a certain extent.
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