The Carnage Controversy: Should Openers Always Bang It Out And Play Very, Very Way More Louder And Stronger?

Sorry, but there isn’t enough face palm in the world to match the cringeworthyness of this recent Carnage tweet:

Now, let me first say this: in certain contexts, what he’s saying isn’t completely wrong…that is, in certain, very specific contexts…

But the statement alone without providing more context is doing a huge disservice to beginner DJs who are still trying to get their bearings with DJ etiquette.

So this post mainly goes out to them. (They may not be able to properly discern the subtleties of his controversial tweet.)

For all intents and purposes, I think we can all agree that when he says “bang it out”, this pretty much means to play as hard as you can, using peak hour bangers your entire set, with minimal breakdowns. This is generally the accepted definition of that term.

Remember these words: Foreplay, lube and warm up! “Banging it out” is perfectly fine…but only after it’s welcome. Remember, when you’re the DJ, you’re the conductor of a train with many passengers. You’re in control of their experience. So do everyone a huge favor and don’t be this train conductor:

However, speaking in terms of festivals only, (not at bars or clubs), DJ’s are usually booked to showcase their unique sound. So if the sound you’re known for is heavy, abrasive, peak hour dubstep that melts faces…then there’s a little more forgiveness for “banging it out” at 8:00 PM in a festival situation.

But check it out: Even if that sound is your bread and butter, then guess what? You can still play dubstep.

But play dubstep that tastefully caters to a beginning timeslot. Draw the people in to your presence. Dig deep in places other than the Beatport Top 100 for your tracks. Don’t be a one trick pony DJ.

Maybe find some early dubstep style classics or some deeper cuts within the genre? They’re out there. Some great dubstep tracks focus more on 808’s, sub bass and melodies. You don’t have to only play the heavily compressed, midrange wall of sound that most modern dubstep is known for.

Going deeper as an opener will showcase your range and depth of situational awareness. In today’s instant gratification and self-centered atmosphere, it’s really easy to lose sight of your role as an opening DJ and swing for the upper deck.

As tempting as it is to play as hard as you can, you’ll make a bigger impact if you don’t go crazy and over do it.

And if there’s an important agent or promoter there watching as Carnage says there might be, then trust me, you’ll make a better impression on them by playing an intelligent, time-slot appropriate set. They know what’s up. So don’t try to be a headliner when you’re clearly not.

One of a promoter’s biggest challenges is finding local openers who will play time-slot appropriate and genre-appropriate sets.

Just know this: putting huge effort into an opening set and “giving it all you’ve got” doesn’t necessarily mean that the only variables allowed for doing so are BPM and energy level of the tracks. Please read that sentence again

Properly Playing An Opening Set

Imagine you’re a kid at a friend’s sleepover. It’s morning time. There’s a half dozen of you in your sleeping bags in the living room. A couple of you are awake already, and the others are just waking up, yawning and wiping the sleep out of their eyes.

Then in walks your friend’s older brother. He’s got a large metal ladle and a frying pan. And he starts banging it like a drum as loud as he can while screaming “Wake up you idiots”!

THIS is what an opening DJ who plays bangers is like! So don’t be that dick older brother who loves stroking his own ego at everyone else’s expense for a quick fix of douchey self-gratification.

Instead, draw people in. Interface with them and match the CURRENT mood of the atmosphere before trying to elevate it.

Very, very few people will be going hard at 8PM at a festival, (although we all have that ONE friend!) So if the vastly overwhelming mood of the space is more chill, then don’t come out from left field and try to cram something completely different down everyone’s throat. (This is the #1 common mistake of beginner DJs.)

You have to interface with the existing over-all energy level and match it first. Then, once you have people vibing with you and drawn in, then, AND ONLY THEN, can you slowly start ramping up the energy.

Remember: you want to draw people in to the dance area, not push them away from it. If I walked into a bar early in the night and this dude was playing, I’d immediately do an about face and leave:

Remember, it’s not about you showing people how hard you can play. And it’s not about the headliner’s “fragile ego or insecurities” as Carnage says. It’s about doing what’s best for the event. It’s about making the energy of the space the #1 priority, not any one individual’s gratification or career advancement.

“Ask not what you can do to get ahead from playing the event, ask what you can do FOR the event.” -JFK or someone

Enhancing the energy of the space should be the #1 priority for all DJs. The overall feeling of the room is the most important thing. And playing way too hard as an opener does not enhance or build the energy of the space.

Instead, you’re actually draining it and being an energy vampire if you do that. Your priority should be to first interface with, then augment and build the overall feel of the atmosphere, not detract from it.

A Few Pro Tips For Openers:

• DON’T play any of the headliner’s original tracks! Just don’t…
• Play an appropriate genre- or maybe some similar tracks from the label that the headliner is on.
• DON’T over do it on the alcohol (or other) consumption. Nothing will make promoters not want to book you more.
• END YOUR SET ON TIME! If the next DJ starts at 11:00 PM, then they need to be on the decks and mixing into your last track AT 11:00 PM!! Not 11:01…Not 11:02, Not after you “play just one more”…No! Respect the other artists’ set times.

So In Conclusion:

Go as hard as you can as an opener! But NOT by playing out of context, peak hour bangers. Go hard by showing how good of an opener you can be. Impress the people who count. Dig deep for the right tracks. Play appropriate, intelligent music that embraces and lifts the current energy of the crowd.

And present yourself to everyone as a professional with self-awareness and proper DJ etiquette. Show them that you can be trusted with control of the precious early energy of the night.

An opener has much more impact on the tone of the entire night than they might think.