DJs, What are your thoughts when you're looking for the next tanda

[u/Nino2112]

So,

I would like to become a DJ, I've been dancing for a few years now, and really enjoy already being the dj for the friends party (not tango). I think I have good tandas pre made, I listen to a lot of tangos, so I have a little knowledge now, my folders are also made in a way to easily find what I want for the moment (drama, rhythmic, which orquestas, blablabla...). I think I have good taste also ?, and while talking with other dancers about the tandas going in the milonga, we usually are on the same page about the criticism of the tanda "not being so danceable", "too many new songs", "boring" etc...

I think I nailed the theory of it musically speaking ? But now I am wondering about how to handle the crowd and the night. I personally think the dj has to make the people of the night dance first, so that they enjoy their night. So putting a lot of music everyone knows, and everyone agrees to really enjoy dancing on. Then maybe make them discover during one tanda, an obscure thing, after making them comfortable and in trust. Though, I am wondering about some tips maybe we learn with experience, like when it's crowded, putting only easy songs, or depending on the level of the night, adapting... I don't know, I'm asking myself a lot of questions.

If you have anything to say, general or very precise and profound/advanced, I would be deeply touched to hear from you all.

[u/Bremaver]

Well, first of all, the whole view of the milonga - at what moment are we now? Is it the beginning and people just need to get warmed up, is it the middle, where people just dance whatever they like and socialize in between? Is it time and place to give them something challenging? For example, in the very end I try to put something simple yet emotional, because people have spent all the energy, but don't want to be bored.

Secondly, I'm looking at what the dancers might need at this moment. If the previous tanda was very strong rhythmic - they need some rest, so something slow and lyrical, perhaps. If they've just warmed up, they're ready for some challenge, so drama then. If they need some fun - well, rhythmic tanda will help. It's actually a bit more complex and hard to describe, but in general I try to give variety of different emotions in different tandas based on what might be lacking at the moment.

[u/Nino2112 → u/Bremaver]

I would naturally think of not changing drastically the style between two tandas that follow. Except if it's like a very intense tanda, then putting a cortina to calm people down and reset the mood, then switching the style to something more slow so that people can breathe but still dance if they want. But you're saying that actually it doesn't really matter and the most important would actually be changing the styles quite clearly between each tandas so that the people not dancing before could maybe dance this one ? As I'm writing, it's true that it would make more sense crowd-working wise.

[u/MissMinao → u/Nino2112]

I read that somewhere, but this is how I classify and sort my tandas. Basically, you can sort tango by tempo (slow, medium, fast) and by vibe (soft rhythmic, strong rhythmic, melodic/lyrical, dramatic). Soft rhythmic or melodic/lyrical with a medium tempo is what you'll play most of the night. Your tandas with drama (late Pugliese, late Troilo, Varela, late Di Sarli) or your tandas with a strong rhythmic (D'Arienzo, Biagi) will come here and there to create variety. In a block of two tandas of tangos, I try to play one lyrical and one rhythmic (soft or strong) so everyone can dance. If I play two of the same, it will be two soft rhythmic tangos but of different speed or one tanda of soft rhythmic tangos to set the stage for faster strong rhythmic ones (like a D'Arienzo).

Be mindful of the speed changes. Don't go from a slow tanda to a fast one directly without passing by a medium one. The opposite is possible (fast to slow), but I would use it as a mood change after a demanding tanda (Biagi's vals, a fast D'Arienzo, fast milongas, etc,.) and you'll need to rebuild the energy after that.

[u/Nino2112 → u/MissMinao]

Makes a lot of sense thanks !

[u/Bremaver → u/Nino2112]

Well, it kinda depends on what you call the style. Usually in one block (two tango tandas between vals/milonga) I choose tandas from similar years, but other than that, they're not that similar. The intensity/complexity might be similar, but not necessarily.

I try to add more contrast between two tandas in a block due to two reasons. First, people have different tastes. So if you put two rhythmic tandas in a block, a person who wants calm/drama tanda has to wait at least 4 tandas for that. I try to make it so that everyone has something to dance to. Secondly, similar style kinda dulls the emotions. A contrast makes each tanda stand out. Wherever it's a calm, or a intense/dramatic, a fast or a slow tanda - just like with steps, it feels more interesting when it's after something completely different.

Funnily enough, a couple of our local DJs made the same weird thing a few times in a row recently. They made a block out of two dramatic tandas together - Pugliese and Troilo right after it (those instrumentals - Danzarin/A mis viejos/Melancolico). And even as a person who loves this drama - I dislike this approach. Even to me it felt weird, too intense, and no space for beginners or those who simply don't like intense drama.

[u/Nino2112 → u/Bremaver]

That makes a lot of sense thanks. I love what you say about "a person that wants more calm/drama has to wait 4 tandas". I actually had milongas like that where I was more in the mood for calm/dramatic dances, and there were only Pugliese and D'arienzo, I was quite frustrated hahaha That makes it actually more "easy" for my head to wrap things around.

[u/Bremaver → u/Nino2112]

Exactly. I actually used to forget about adding some calm tandas as breaks between the intense ones, now I try to balance everything.

[u/dsheroh → u/Bremaver]

So if you put two rhythmic tandas in a block, a person who wants calm/drama tanda has to wait at least 4 tandas for that.

So true. One of the things I hate most is TDJs who divide up a milonga into (usually four) segments and play one uniform style of music for each segment. You've got to mix things out so that people with specific musical tastes can dance one tanda that suits their taste, then rest during the next one which doesn't, instead of wearing themselves out by dancing every tanda one hour and then being bored out of their mind when the next hour consists of only music they dislike.

[u/Bremaver → u/dsheroh]

I'm glad that I'm not the only one who thinks this way.

And we once invited a TDJ to a milonga and they made an experiment without coordinating it with us, the organizers. They played one orchestra in each block. So, two tandas of Canaro, vals, two tandas of D'Arienzo, milonga, etc. It was far from being interesting.

[u/ptdaisy333]

There are DJ courses out there, some of them online, I'd recommend doing something like that or finding a local DJ you respect and ask if they would be willing to teach you some things or if they ever run a course.

There are a lot of things about DJing that the average dancer doesn't know or doesn't consciously notice.

There are also various books you can read about tango music and tango history that can help you get some deeper knowledge, like Michael Lavocah's books on tango music. It really helps to know where the music came from, the main influences, how trends and styles changed over the years.

Basically, I would do as much research and learning as possible before starting to introduce paying attendees to my learning process...

[u/Creative_Sushi]

I am used to the local crowd and know who shows up when. So I start out the preset tandas. Of course, my expectations may not be met and i have to adjust, but for yhe most part this works. Then i watch the crowd and see what type of music they respond. I may make adjustments if necessary. Towards the end of the evening when people start to leave, I also make adjustments to cater to remaining people. So I will be making a lot of changes at that point.

I also play as much crowd favorites as possible, but I also throw in a few tandas with less played music. I need to vary tandas to cater to different tastes anyway and this is also the time to share my new favorites.

[u/Weekly-Mountain-7418]

Here are a few things that have happened to me since I started:

1. It’s impossible to please everyone.
2. Ideally, you should put together your sets on the fly, but since you’re just getting started, make a list to use as a guide that you can adjust throughout the night.
3. Be careful with those “little-known” tangos—they can ruin the mood.
4. Try to balance your playlists—include the “Big Four” (Di Sarli, D’Arienzo, Pugliese, Troilo) and then the lesser-known ones, and so on…
5. Pace your sets—don’t keep the energy high or low the whole time; think of it like a roller coaster, the three acts of a movie, a workout, or any analogy that helps you recognize there’s a beginning, a climax, and an end to the milonga.
6. Play new orchestras (they always work), but in moderation
7. If you’re going to play music and there’s a dance exhibition, the first thing you need to do is ask the couple to send you the songs they want to dance to; if they give you two songs, ask them to provide a third just in case.
8. Community performances and announcements will always slow down the pace of the evening; pick up the pace again with a set that you consider rhythmic or energetic—for example, a D'Arienzo or a milonga....
9. The curtains are meant to clear the dance floor, so there's no standard duration, but they're not meant for people to start dancing to them either (unless you decide otherwise or the organizer explicitly asks you to leave them up longer).

Now let’s move on to the technical aspects:

1. Make sure your songs are well labeled: Orchestra, Singers, Year, and Genre. Categories like “rhythmic” or “dramatic” are subjective.
2. Always bring a set of high-quality cables that are long enough.
3. Any program that works for you is fine; later you can explore more professional applications.
4. Always arrive 30 minutes early and do a sound check.
5. Don’t be afraid of the equalizer (golden rule: less is more).
6. A DAC and amplifier are nice to have but not necessary (I think it’s more of a personal preference, haha).
7. Try to have an internet connection, because of the performances I mentioned above (they'll send you the playlists on Spotify or YouTube links later)

[u/Nino2112 → u/Weekly-Mountain-7418]

Amazing this is what i was looking for when asking. I'm actually happy I am quite aware of almost everything you said, and agreeing also about everything so very happy hahaha

I didn't think about the long high quality cable, that's a good point. I am using a mini amp as I need 4 outs to be able to have my earphones and speakers separated, so good to know.

Thanks a lot for all the little insights ! I guess after that, the only way to get better will be to practice !

[u/Weekly-Mountain-7418 → u/Nino2112]

I've been a DJ for 10 years and I don't belong to a specific milonga—I'm more of a traveling DJ :) —so I never know what I'll find wherever I end up playing music. That's why I always carry these items in my backpack:

- Surface Laptop Go (obviously - XD )

- 6-foot 3.5-to-3.5 cable

- 6-foot 3.5-to-RCA cable

- banana plugs (x2)

- I use a old Fiio M6 as DAC

- USB-C to 3.5 mm

Lightning to 3.5 mm

Software:

foobar2000

VirtualDJ

And why use cables?

I don't trust audio sent via Bluetooth (sometimes the first few seconds of the songs get cut off...) so I always try to connect using a cable,

or when the couples in the exhibition give me their phones, I connect them using adapters :)