ISSUE 193 APRIL 2018 WWW.MOBILEBEAT.COM THE MUSIC ISSUE STREAMING CONFRONTING THE CONTROVERSY THE MOBILE BEAT TOP 200 POWERED BY Audio-Technica www.audio-technica.com D.A.S. Audio www.dasaudio.com THE MUSIc issue PLAYLIST WEDDING BEAT ........................................................... 6 Crank the Hank: How to Spin Country Music at a Wedding Reception By Staci Nichols MOBILE MATTERS........................................................ 8 With or Against the Stream? By Matt Martindale MIDWEEK MONEY ...................................................... 10 Trivia Sales Tune-Up By Rob Johnson FEATURE ....................................................................12 ADVERTISERS 1978: Musical Memories By Mark Evans Audio-Technica www.audio-technica.com 2 SPECIAL FEATURE ......................................................14 D.A.S. Audio www.dasaudio.com 3 Mobile Beat Top 200 DigiGames www.digigames.com 11 POWERED BY DJ INTELLIGENCE DJ Intelligence www.djintelligence.com 15 E-BEAT ...................................................................... 26 djay Pro 2: Quick Take DJ Trivia www.djtrivia.com 17 By Mark Evans Full Compass www.fullcompass.com/dj 25 Innovative LED www.innovativeledsales.com 13 Mobile Beat Cruise www.mobilebeatcruise.com 27 Mobile Beat Las www.mobilebeatlasvegas.com 28 Vegas QSC www.qsc.com 5 Stage Spot www.stagespot.com 9 Publisher Events Director Editorial Assistant / Ryan Burger Jake Feldman Writer Mobile Beat Circulation Manager Rebecca Burger Editor-in-Chief Kitty Harr Events Director Emeritus Dan Walsh Michael Buonaccorso TO ADVERTISE IN MOBILE BEAT OR EXHIBIT AT A MOBILE BEAT EVENT, CALL 515-986-3344 x300 OR EMAIL [email protected] 4 MOBILEBEAT.COM ▷ APRIL 2018 QSC .................... www.qsc.com WEDDING BEAT Crank the Hank: How to Spin Country Music at a Wedding Reception By Staci Nichols WEDDING BEAT Crank the Hank: How to Spin Country Music at a Wedding Reception By Staci Nichols their toes, but they won't ou didn't know I'm 1/2 German and 1/4 Redneck? be out on the dance floor Y Yep. I grew up on a ranch 5 miles from the (based on my expertise and nearest store. I once slept on the sidewalk for Garth experience). Brooks tickets, I shot my first gun in 5th grade, Occasionally, the bride will tell me that 3 or 4 of her besties and herself know a few line dances from hanging out at the local country and I'm not ashamed to say I love honky tonkin' bar. Ask her for the names of the dances and what songs they want (i.e. line dancing & riding the mechanical bull in a to dance each line dance to (some line dances can be done to country bar, usually over cheap beer or whiskey). multiple songs; others can not be). In this case, I will typically play these two or three line dances they know 5-15 minutes into open dancing as a way to warm up the rest of the crowd (the crew of besties will dance to "their" line dances sober and on a cold floor simply because "Hey, I know this one!") I usually will do their line dances back to back and knock them out right away. The only other country music I'll play during open dancing is this block: "Sweet Home Alabama," Lynyrd Skynyrd (99 BPM) into "Save a Horse," Big & Rich (102 BPM) into "Country Girl (Shake It For Me)," Luke Bryan (106 BPM). On certain occasions, I might throw in an club remix of anything by Carrie Underwood or Miranda Lambert or Lady Antebellum's "Need You Now" (if the clients can tolerate club music). COUNTRY MUSIC IS FOR DRINKIN' R&B is for making babies. EDM is for fist pumping. Country is for drinkin.' When do people drink? Cocktail Hour (and Dinner). And, of course, country slow songs can be squeezed in pretty easily No shock that one of my specialties is country music/country during open dancing. But what if the couple really needs to hear line dancing (google "Country DJ" and you'll find me on page more country one)...so here is how I navigate the situation when a client tells music than just you they want some country music for dancing at their reception. that? The last First, take a deep breath, smile, and relax. As DJs, we know 9 times thing you want out of 10 this is going to be like dumping a bucket of ice water to do is try to on the dance floor we've worked so hard to fire up. Not to worry! mix blocks of country in with ASK IF THE GUESTS KNOW HOW TO COUNTRY DANCE "real" dance 95% of the time, they do not. Ask specifically, "Do you guys know music! the Slappin' Leather, Tush Push, or Power Jam?" If they look at No worries. you confused, follow up with, "Two Step? Ten Step?" Still no (or This is my secret mostly no)? Then I will tell the client that, yes, of course, I can weapon! I ask play country music during dancing, BUT, in my experience, your the client if they guests won't dance to it (yes, even if it's their favorite country would like to have some "traditional" wedding dance music for song). Your guests might be singing along, they might be tapping a portion of the time after dinner then, at some point, transition to what equates to sort of a second Cocktail Hour--what I call "Country Drinkin' Music." DJ Staci Nichols is based in San Diego and specializes in spinning “country fusion,” So, for example, the bride might want one hour of regular Latin/Spanish, and mainstream music. Her know-how has appeared in San Diego Style Weddings, Offbeat Bride, Wedding Planner Magazine, and Book More dancing and one hour of country. I will play the regular "go to" Brides. She offers consulting at WeddingBizConsultant.com or check out her DJ biz dance stuff then start winding it down and transitioning from that at SanDiegoDJStaci.com. IG/FB/Pinterest/Twitter: SanDiegoDJStaci to country with some classic rock—"You Shook Me All Night Long," ACDC (126 BPM) into "Livin' on a Prayer," Bon Jovi (123 BPM) into 6 MOBILEBEAT.COM ▷ APRIL 2018 "Don't Stop Believin," Journey (119 BPM). You can even throw in New poppy "country" for the city slickers (remember to play "Sweet Caroline," Neil Diamond (126 BPM) or "Jessie's Girl," Rick "Shake It Off" by Taylor Swift during dancing as most pop country Springfield (131 BPM). fans are Swifties): When I start the last non-country song, I will announce • "Body Like a Back Road," Sam Hunt to please join us on the dance floor for the last dance and let • "This is How We Roll" and "Cruise," Florida Georgia everyone know I'll be playing "Country Drinkin' Music" until Line 10:00 PM so don't go anywhere. As much as I hate talking during • "Dirt Road Anthem," Jason Aldean dancing, this announcement is crucial. • "It Goes Like This," Thomas Rhett WHAT COUNTRY SONGS TO PLAY • "Song about a Girl," Eric Paslay If you even mention "Achy Breaky Heart" or "Boot Scootin' Boogie," • "Parking Lot Party" and "Four on the Floor," Lee Brice the client is going to put on a plastic smile and slowly back out • "Humble & Kind," Tim McGraw of the door, running for their lifted 4x4. These songs are dead • "Drink to That All Night," Jerrod Niemann give-aways that you don't know anything about country music or • "Little Red Wagon," Miranda Lambert (clean version) country dancing. After using the transition songs listed above, here • "Head Over Boots," Jon Pardi is a good idea of the type of music I would play for a classic block of "Country Drinkin' Music" (followed by a list of poppy "country" • "Huntin,' Fishin,' & Lovin' Every Day," Luke Bryan songs for those couples who've never heard of Chris LeDeux): • "Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not," Thompson Square • "Good Hearted Woman" or "I'm a Ramblin' Man," • "Hey Pretty Girl" and "Somethin' 'Bout a Truck," Kip Waylon Jennings Moore • "Fishin' in the Dark," Nitty Gritty Dirt Band • "Bait a Hook," Justin Moore • "Thank God I'm a Country Boy," John Denver (Direct • "Crank It Up," Colt Ford Music Service has a great beatmatchable remix • "Bottoms Up" and "Country Must Be Country-Wide," available) Brantley Gilbert • "All My X's Live in Texas," George Strait • "Boys 'Round Here," Blake Shelton • "A Boy Named Sue," Johnny Cash • "Don't Ya," Brett Eldredge • "If You're Going to Play in Texas," "Tennessee River & • "Small Town Throwdown," Brantley Gilbert/Thomas a Mountain Man," and/or "Dixieland Delight," Alabama Rhett/Justin Moore • "Fancy," Reba McEntire (just a smidge different than • "Redneck Crazy," Tyler Farr the Iggy Azalea song) • "Somethin' Bad," Carrie Underwood & Miranda • "Boondocks," Little Big Town Lambert • "What Was I Thinkin," Dierks Bentley • "C.O.U.N.T.R.Y." LoCash Cowboys • "Girls Night Out," "Have Mercy," and/or "Rockin with • "Smoke a Little Smoke," Eric Church the Rhythm," the Judds Then be sure to end with Toby Keith's "Red Solo Cup" into Garth • "Hooked on an 8 Second Ride," Chris LeDeux Brooks' "Friends in Low Places" if grandma is still around. If you're • "Play Somethin' Country," Brooks N Dunn (you can dealing with a bunch of shirtless groomsmen by this point, be sure Electric Slide to this one) to throw on "Take My Drunk Ass Home" by Luke Bryan afterwards. • "Saturday Night Special," Conway Twitty Now if the client says, on the other hand, "Yes, we go line • "Country Boy Can Survive" and "Family Tradition,"* dancing every week. We met at a honky tonk, and most of our Hank Williams Jr friends are fellow line dancers," then you tell the bride to call me because she'll need a DJ who knows which songs go with which • "Devil Went Down to Georgia," Charlie Daniels Band dances and the counts to start each dance.