What Venues Look For in Open-Format DJs

An open-format DJ’s job is to adapt to the vibe of the venue, the crowd, and the moment. Also known as a multi-genre DJ, open-format DJs can effortlessly mix across styles, from Hip-Hop and House to Indie bangers and throwback hits.

These musical skills are exactly why venues love open-format DJs — they’re flexible, adaptable, and essentially guarantee a crowd-pleasing experience, whether it’s for a corporate party or a club headline set. Multi-genre sets promise to bring crowds to the dancefloor and keep them there.

But with so much competition between open-format DJs, how can you make sure you stand out? Thankfully, we know a thing or two about what venues are looking for when they browse DJs.

1) You know how to read a room

Having excellent crowd reading skills is a non-negotiable for open-format DJs. You could have the best playlist ever, but if it doesn’t suit the venue’s vibe, it won’t hit the mark.

The best live DJ venues are looking for acts that can tune into a venue’s atmosphere and adapt their performance mid-set if required. You need to be skilled enough to watch and monitor the reaction of the room and adjust the tempo in response.

2) You're confident in your skills, no matter the genre

Venues opt for multi-genre DJs for their versatility, so don’t waste your moment in the spotlight on your personal favourites. You’ll need to be able to seamlessly blend across different genres to ensure that guests stay on the dancefloor all night. 

Don’t let this stress you out, though. You don’t need to be a master in mixing every genre, but the more musical styles you are confident in, the more music venues you’ll appeal to. 

A top tip is to mix in some sure-fire crowd-pleasers depending on the venue’s location and general theme.

3) You move between songs with fluidity

While it’s important to select the best songs for any venue, it’s also essential to consider how you’ll transition between them. As an open-format DJ, smooth and polished transitions can make or break your set. 

Crowds really appreciate the artistry and skill behind layered sounds, tempo builds, and floor-vibrating bass-drops, so make sure to honour this in your sets. When practising for your gig, try recording your sets, listening to them back, and putting yourself in the audience’s shoes.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with your transitions, either. Fresh, innovative sounds will stick in the minds of audiences as well as venue managers.

4) You arrive with a reliable setup

Venues will often provide the equipment you need for a show-stopping set, but arriving ready and equipped shows initiative, whether it’s with USB back-ups, spares, or having a routine for your pre-gig sound check.

These little finishing touches show reliability, and reliability is what will get you booked time and time again. Showing up prepared and professional is one of the most effective ways to stand out for all the best reasons.

5) You have a solid online presence

Whether you promote your work through social media or with a free GigPig profile, it’s worth utilising your online presence to help you get as many bookings as possible. Your profile(s) should be doing the hard work for you, so make sure it’s this way, and not the other way around! For more information on building an artist profile that stands out, check out our How to Build the Perfect GigPig Profile to Maximise Your Music Bookings blog.

 If you want to appear visible and reliable to venues online, stay as active as possible. Respond to enquiries quickly, post regularly on your social media profiles, and provide all of the information that promoters and managers need to identify the best DJs for hire.

It’s also worth remembering that venue managers want to hear and see what you can do, not just read about it, so share high-quality photos, sound bites, and live set recordings. The GigPig platform allows you to embed any Soundcloud/Mixcloud mixes on your profile, as well as video footage and your social media accounts.

6) You know how to network professionally

At the end of the day, venues will promote and re-book DJs that are approachable, professional, and easy to collaborate with. 

The live music sphere thrives on building relationships and connections, so make sure to introduce yourself to venue staff before every set, chat to any other performers or acts, and always send a follow-up to the venue after every gig you perform.

Gain momentum and book a gig with GigPig

At GigPig, we connect artists with venues so they can put on the best performances in their local area, for free.

Whether you want to promote yourself as a live DJ in London, land your first gig, or book DJ gigs in new UK cities, we have all the tools you need to get on the stage.

Sign up as an artist for access to our GigPig app, check out our FAQs, and feel free to get in touch with our friendly team for more information.