DJ Insider Series #1 - Secrets to a Successful DJ Set

In this post, I aim to distil 30 years of DJ experience into a comprehensive guide filled with essential lessons, skills, tips, and tricks that I’ve picked up along the way.

This guide is crafted to assist anyone eager to understand what separated a good DJ set from a great one.

There are a lot of good DJs out there, but also a lot of bad ones, too. Hopefully after reading this guide, you’ll be able to tell the difference between the haves and the have-absolutely-no-clues.

Crowd Connection is Everything

Any DJ worth their sodium chloride knows the importance of connecting with the crowd. If there were an industry standard top-ten tick-list of things to remember, it would be numero uno.

If you don’t connect with the crowd, you might as well put on a now-that’s-what-I-call-music greatest hits and retire to the bar.

The crowd is there to create an atmosphere, and the job of a DJ is to create an environment that enables and inspires that to happen.

Bring the Passion - and the Technical Ability

Human beings are pretty intuitive creatures (at least generally speaking). Put a crowd of us together and for the large part, we will be able to gauge whether something is genuine or not.

If you don’t have genuine enthusiasm and passion for what you’re doing, people will pick up on that energy and you will struggle to engage with them. People can sense when you’re genuinely excited about what you are doing.

Music is my passion and it always has been. Even after 30 years and thousands of shows, the buzz I get from performing on stage still feels as fresh and exciting as ever.

That enthusiasm fuels my performances and resonates with guests. And if I ever get to the stage where it no longer excites me, I will know it's time to stop. 

Read the Room

Keeping the dancefloor full requires close observation. I’m constantly scanning the room for signs of engagement or disinterest - facial expressions, dancing intensity, and even foot-tapping can be strong indicators of what’s working and what isn’t.

If I see the signs of an impending lull in energy, I’ll respond immediately, either by bumping up the tempo, changing the genre, or dropping a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Flexibility is everything. A well-placed track at the right moment can turn a tepid crowd into a whirlwind of energy.

Crafting the Perfect Playlist

I start every event by collaborating closely with the couple or event planner. I want to grasp their vision, note any must-plays, and understand their musical “no-go’s.” All my clients can access our music planning app to request as much or as little as they’d like in advance.

Using these preferences, I create a bespoke playlist that balances requests with my knowledge of crowd-pleasing hits. A good DJ will walk into every gig with a plan, but they will be ready to switch things up if the crowd’s response dictates it.

Planning Vs Spontaneity

One of the biggest challenges for any DJ is knowing how much to plan versus how much to wing it. I will always outline the key moments in advance - like the grand entrance, the first dance, or the cake-cutting - but I will leave room for organic changes.

If the crowd is loving one genre, I’ll run with it longer than initially planned. If not then I’ll switch it up.

A great DJ set often feels like a wave - sometimes you raise the energy with a banger, and other times you let guests catch their breath with a slower track.

Finding that rhythm is part instinct and part experience. It’s a dynamic that, when correctly understood and implemented, can completely change the course of an event, elevating a floundering event and creating an organic sense of energy and excitement that feeds the crowd.

The Importance of Go-To Tracks

No matter how meticulous your planning is, having a carefully curated collection of guaranteed bangers to call on is an essential tool in any self-respecting DJ’s toolkit.

There are two instances during a set when these bangers will be required: 1) to get people up and dancing in the first place: and 2) to get people back on their feet after the inevitable lull in proceedings.

  1. Getting People up on Their Feet

When it comes to getting the dancefloor started, the following iconic tunes are guaranteed to spark instant sing-alongs and unite guests of all ages:

  • I Want It That Way - Backstreet Boys

  • Dancing Queen - ABBA

  • September - Earth, Wind & Fire

  • Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond

  • YMCA - Village People

  1. Getting People Back on Their Feet

And these are my tried-and-true tracks to get people back on their feet:

  • I Gotta Feeling - Black Eyed Peas

  • Uptown Funk - Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars

  • Can’t Stop the Feeling! - Justin Timberlake

  • Happy - Pharrell Williams

  • Celebration - Kool & The Gang

I’ve seen my share of slow starts and sleepy crowds, but one memorable wedding stands out. Guests were glued to their seats, chatting away while the dancefloor remained empty. I quickly shifted gears, spinning a medley of disco classics, and it worked like magic.

Within minutes, the floor was packed and the entire night transformed into a high-energy celebration. Moments like this are why I love what I do, and proof that music truly can bring people together.

Thinking on Your Feet

Events rarely go 100% to plan, and certain skills can't be practiced in a studio or mastered through tutorials. They come alive only in the moment, under real pressures, and require an instinctive feel for the crowd's mood. One such skill is the ability to turn around an atmosphere on the fly and to switch tracks and shift vibes seamlessly. But there are few skills which so clearly distinguish a decent DJ from a great one.

One moment that will always stand out in my mind was one summer when a power outage struck in the middle of a reception at a castle venue. You could feel the energy in the room dissipate immediately, with no sign of a quick fix.

Rather than panic, I pulled out a portable speaker and played acoustic versions of crowd-favourite songs by candlelight. The guests sang along, and what could have been a disaster turned into a magical, unforgettable moment.

The Power of MCing

To most people - unless you’re experienced in talking to crowds or presenting in public – the prospect of MCing is daunting and doesn’t come naturally to most people.

The ability of a DJ to effectively speak to and engage with a crowd must be mastered. It’s about finding the right balance.

We’ve all been at that wedding where the DJ makes the mistake of chatting over the top of tunes and interrupting the music with a muffled dialogue that no one can interpret.

You don’t want to talk so much that you disrupt the music, but you don’t want to leave guests in the dark, either.

I tailor my approach to the event type. For weddings, I ensure the special moments (like introductions or the cake cutting) are highlighted. For corporate or high-energy parties, my MCing might be more animated and motivational.

A well-placed announcement can guide the flow of the evening, highlight key moments, and keep the energy high. When done thoughtfully, MCing adds to the experience rather than detracts away from it.

Final Thoughts

The hallmarks of a successful DJ set are prioritising the crowd’s energy, crafting a dynamic playlist, and staying ready to adapt at a moment’s notice.

Whether it’s a wedding, corporate event, birthday party or casual gathering, the goal is always the same: to create an experience that guests will talk about long after the final song ends.

So when you’re searching for a DJ, prioritise adaptability, experience, and passion. It’s not just about having the biggest music library - it’s about knowing how and when to deploy those tracks for maximum impact.

A great DJ will combine your personal taste with a wealth of event experience to deliver a set that feels both intimate and exhilarating.