Are You Interested in DJ-ing for CSDS?

CSDS is always looking to expand the list of DJs for events, such as Swing Swap and our monthly dances.  To help recruit new DJs, provide guidance on expectations, and keep a consistent level of quality for the music at our events, CSDS has DJ guidelines for Swing Swap and our monthly dances.  If you are interested in being a DJ the guidelines and the DJ resources at the bottom are a great place to learn about WCS music in our community.

If you are interested in being a CSDS DJ some things we’ll consider:

  • What DJ experience do you have?
  • Do you have your own DJ equipment?
  • Do you dance WCS and/or any other dance styles?
  • Where do you dance?  Locally, out of town, weekend events?

For more information, or to let us know you’re interested, use the volunteer request form.

Swing Swap guidelines

  • All music should be WCS appropriate and beginner friendly (i.e., has a strong beat)
  • Music should be 85-110 bpm
  • Limit songs to 4 1/2 minutes in length
  • First song or two of the evening should be around 95 bpm to allow dancers to warm up
  • Don’t repeat songs in an evening
  • Play a variety of music with varying bpm but don’t play multiple fast songs in a row
  • Use the “radio-edit” version of songs with explicit violence, drug use, and curse words
  • We encourage our DJs to introduce new music but 50% of the music should be familiar tried-and-true WCS music with new music mixed in with the familiar

Swing Swap is a great place to get started on your DJ journey.  If you are interested in hosting Swing Swap but need help with a playlist CSDS has several experienced DJs within the community that can provide a Spotify playlist to get you started.  You will need to bring your own phone or device with Spotify downloaded to it; open and close the SS space; be a gracious host to our dancers; and operate the equipment. Training will be provided!

Monthly Dances guidelines

  • 80% of the music should be WCS appropriate
  • The other 20% can be East Coast/Lindy, Latin, ballroom, country 2-step, nightclub 2-step, and line-dance but don’t play too many from any one particular dance type (unless instructed to do so by the CSDS board)
  • It is fine if all music is WCS
  • Don’t play more than 1 non-WCS song in a row
  • WCS music should be 80-120 bpm but with music predominantly in the 85-110 bpm range
  • Limit songs to 4 1/2 minutes in length
  • First song or two of the evening should be around 95 bpm to allow dancers to warm up
  • Our beginners tend to attend early in the evening so leave the more challenging songs for later in the evening
  • Don’t repeat songs in an evening
  • Play a variety of music with varying bpm but don’t play multiple fast songs in a row
  • Use the “radio-edit” version of songs with explicit violence, drug use, and curse words.
  • We encourage our DJs to introduce new music but 50% of the music should be familiar tried-and-true WCS music with new music mixed in with the familiar
Additional information on the guidelines:
  • These are meant to be guidelines and not rules.  CSDS is providing guidance to the DJs as to what works for our community and help recruit new DJ talent.
  • Bpm range for SS versus monthly dances.  SS is a casual “beginner friendly” practice session.  110 bpm is still at a pretty good clip and is a good dance for an experienced dancer but not overly challenging/discouraging for a newer dancer (similarly for the lower end of the range).
  • Beginner friendly WCS music should have a strong beat with easy-to-identify downbeats and upbeats. Ideally, the timing of the rhythm of most songs played should be compatible with the timing of a basic triple step.
  • Reason to limit songs to 4 1/2 minutes:  Most dancers can dance with anyone for 3 1/2 minutes.  But a longer song can make a dance go from a mediocre experience to a miserable experience.
  • The familiar tried-and-true bullets.  Dancers like to dance to music they know; that is when they get to add musicality and embellishments.  Familiar tried-and-true does not equate to “old” but means music that is known to be a good WCS song.  It is expected familiar tried-and-true will change over time.
  • Radio edit version.  The intent is not to remove all songs with implicit sexual references or songs with any curse words.  The intent is to discourage songs that promote violence, are disparaging, or overly explicit.
  • The Swing Swap and/or Talent Coordinators reserve the right to remove a DJ from the lineup if their music proves inappropriate for our community.
DJ Resources:
  • http://sortyourmusic.playlistmachinery.com/ – this will take a Spotify list and give you a bunch of metrics on the list including BPM.  It is not 100% accurate but it will get you 80% there.  Songs that are really high are likely doubled.  When in doubt, manually check.
  • TapTempo – app used to manually check bpm.
  • What is WCS Music – great website to nerd out on WCS music.