8 Things You Learn When You DJ On New Year's Eve
By Chicagoist_Guest in Arts & Entertainment on Jan 4, 2016 4:15PM
By Quinten Rosborough
I’ve been to my fair share of New Year’s Eve parties, but I had never DJed one until last Thursday night. As one-third of Brasstax, I help DJ The Whistler’s monthly rap night; this year, the bar also asked us to DJ their ticketed New Year’s Eve party.
As soon as the open bar opened, I took full advantage of it, and by my third Mezcal Old Fashioned of the night, my memory got a little hazy. Still, after a hangover and some reflection, I’m pretty sure this is what I learned from my first time DJing on the last night of the year.
1. There is, in fact, an official New Year’s Eve App.
“Just remember: people have apps that tell them the exact second it's midnight so you'll definitely want to be on point with that.”
That’s what the Whistler’s owner emailed us a couple days before New Year’s Eve. Up until that point, it had never really occurred to me that in addition to the music, we’d also be responsible for letting people know when 2016 had actually begun. On the one hand, I think it’s kind of silly that there is a demand for the “Times Square Official New Year’s Eve Ball App."* On the other hand, I've never seen a bar with a clock in it.
2. A cover charge changes everything.
It’s obvious in retrospect, but the people who attend your event for free are not the same people who pay $100 to do so. Don’t get it twisted, we sold the place out, but unlike the Logan Square crowd we’re used to, Thursday’s partygoers had an air of professional success about them I wasn’t all that familiar with. I’ll admit I was a bit anxious that they wouldn’t like rap music, but as I would soon find out, at the end of the day Rich Homie Quan is still Rich Homie Quan.
3. Even if you paid a $100 entry fee, I'm not required to play "Drunk in Love," which came out in 2013.
4. An open bar doubles everyone’s New Year’s Eve feelings.
Those who were feeling generous left unsolicited tips on the DJ booth. Those who were feeling sleepy fell asleep at their tables. Those who wanted to hear some Missy Elliott really wanted to hear some Missy Elliott, going so far as to twist their fingers into M’s to get their point across.
5. Kanye’s new song isn't a very good song.
He put out “Facts” at midnight, and it’s Kanye, so we played it without giving it a real listen beforehand. That was a mistake. I mean, this is a real line from the song: “Couches, couches, couches, couches, which one should I pick?”
6. The tamale guy probably makes a killing on New Year’s Eve.
He never made it to the Whistler, but based on how my stomach was feeling I’d imagine New Year’s Eve is his Superbowl.
7. DJing on New Year’s Eve is much more enjoyable than not DJing on New Year’s Eve.
I got paid, drank for free, and got to listen to whatever I wanted to hear all night. Last year, I distinctly remember trying to sneak Young Thug onto a Spotify playlist filled with Taylor Swift and Iggy Azalea. This year, I played Jeremih, Future and Kirk Franklin.
8. “1st of tha Month” will always be the correct choice for the first song of the year.
At first, I voted for Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright” as our midnight song. However, my fellow Brasstax DJ Jake Guidry suggested “1st of tha Month,” and he was so right. It’s the perfect track for the occasion for three reasons: everyone loves Bone Thugs, period; New Year’s Day is, in fact, the first day of the month; and who doesn’t like being reminded that it’s payday?
* For those curious, Countdown Entertainment’s “Time Square Official New Year’s Eve Ball App” currently has 1.5 out of 5 stars in the iTunes App Store. A group of users on the West Coast didn’t realize the app's ball would drop on Eastern Standard Time.
You can follow Quinten Rosborough on Twitter.