Christmas and New Year’s Eve gigs are brilliant for your bank balance – you can easily charge double your normal fee for 31 December, for instance – but they come with unique challenges. You’re dealing with crowds who often never go out any other time of year, quite likely drunk people making increasingly unintelligible requests, and the pressure of nailing that midnight countdown.
Here’s how to come through it all intact, and maybe even enjoy yourself…
1. Your job is to look back, not educate
Think of those “Year in Review” articles run every December – that’s essentially what you’re doing musically. Christmas and New Year parties aren’t about introducing people to cutting-edge sounds or taking them on a journey of musical discovery. They’re about reminding the crowd of everything that’s happened since…well, last Christmas.
So don’t feel guilty about playing tracks that felt tired by October. Now’s absolutely the right time to play them, if only to finally put them to bed. It’s also fine – actually, it’s essential – to include the biggest hits from the past decade. To the once-a-year crowd packing Christmas dancefloors, anything from the last five years counts as “modern, upfront music”.
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They’re not your seasoned, knowledgeable clubbers. Many aren’t even music fans. The difference between how we perceive music aging as DJs and how most crowds perceive it is striking. Play the year’s hits without apology. It’s exactly what the gig demands.
2. Don’t overdo the Christmas music
Yes, you’ll probably need to play one or two Christmas tracks, but use your local radio station as a guide. Notice how rarely they actually play Christmas songs, even in December. That’s your template.
People haven’t come out to hear Christmas music. It’s nice to be reminded it’s Christmas, of course, so dropping in some of those holiday tunes works great. But play one or two too many, and you’re crossing into kitsch territory…which is the last thing you want.
3. Hunt down dancefloor-friendly versions
Plus, here’s the problem with those Christmas favourites: “Christmas songs” aren’t really a genre at all, they’re a subject category. Many of the originals are utterly unsuitable for dancefloors. This is where DJ download pools and specialised DJ stores become your best friend. You can find dancefloor remixes of songs everyone knows – as long as they’re still easily singable, picking versions that’ll actually work on your floor is essential.
The originals of “Last Christmas” or “All I Want For Christmas” might not move your crowd – a proper club mix absolutely will.
“I’m playing from the shit folder already…”
I was once on a party boat chugging along the Thames, full of young travel agents on their Christmas party. It was being DJed by my friend, Wayne. He was playing obvious house music like Robin S. “Show Me Love” and Ultra Nate’s “Free”. But try as he might, the crowd was too busy drinking to hit the dancefloor.
With a sigh, Wayne opened a folder simply entitled “Shit”. Within one song, the dancefloor was jumping, as he played “lowest common denominator” Christmas records and other tracks that at any other time of year would have got him booed off.
Wayne texted his friend (who was DJing at their local club that night) and told him: “I’m playing from the shit folder already…”
“So am I!” came the reply,.
Both DJs knew what had to be done, though, and they’d done it.
The moral of the story is: Christmas is not like any other time of year. Have a “shit folder” prepared, and be prepared to play from it…
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4. Be ready for proper carnage
Like it or not, parties at this time of year can get messy. Your mileage varies depending on culture and venue, but in the West particularly, Christmas parties are notorious for people drinking one too many. As the DJ, you’re at the sharp end of that.
Be ready for drunk people. Be ready for well-meaning but highly irritating people. Be ready to be asked for all kinds of music, and have your diplomatic and patient cap firmly on, because you’re going to need it. Say yes to requests with no intention of playing them – most drunk requesters never come back to follow up anyway.
The good news? Most gigs at this time of year pay well, and New Year’s Eve especially – DJ prices often start at double your normal fee. You have to take the rough with the smooth. Be prepared: that’s my biggest advice here.
5. For New Year’s Eve: nail the midnight moment
If you’re DJing New Year’s Eve, the countdown is everything. This one moment can define your entire reputation at the venue. You need a proper countdown track – not just shouting “10, 9, 8…” over your mic. DJ download sites offer professional countdown tracks ranging from 30 seconds to four minutes.
Test your countdown track beforehand. Know exactly when to start it so midnight actually hits at midnight, not 11:59:47 or 12:00:13. At the stroke of midnight, briefly turn the music down and bring the house lights up – people need space to hug, kiss, and celebrate. Then at 12:01, hit them with the biggest tune of your entire night.
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And – especially in Scotland – never skip “Auld Lang Syne”. Without it, there’s no proper farewell to the year (and you probably won’t get another NYE booking at that venue).
6. Use physical barriers to protect your gear
Drunk people spill drinks constantly. One knocked-over cocktail can destroy your controller, laptop, and the venue’s mixer simultaneously. If the venue has DJ facades or booth barriers, use them. If not, bring a friend specifically to intercept people reaching for your equipment or trying to lean on your decks while wobbling.
When someone approaches mid-mix demanding a track, hold up a “with you in one minute” finger gesture. What’s hilarious is how often they get bored within 20-30 seconds and wander off. If someone genuinely won’t leave you alone or becomes hostile, don’t confront them – get security involved immediately.
Finally…
The money’s good, the crowds are up for it, and you’ll have stories to tell. Just remember: the bar is set extremely low at Christmas parties. Honestly, if the music’s on and people are dancing, you’ve done 80% of the job.
The remaining 20% – reading the room, managing the chaos, nailing that midnight moment – is what separates forgettable performances from the ones that generate repeat bookings for years to come.
Good luck out there, and happy holidays from us here at the Digital DJ Tips school.
Phil Morse
