Mint DJ's 2007 NYE Mix

Hello Everyone,

Well we made it through another year. First off I want to say THANK YOU to everyone that emailed and posted this past year. Your words have been very encouraging.

Well some of you may already know this if you listened to the mix before reading my post...the 2007 NYE mix is only an hour and 16 minutes. It fell short this year mainly because I miscalculated the the length of the tracks. The great part is the mix sounds great, the music is awesome and it will fit on one CD.

Of course all the music can be purchased at Beatport.. Please support the scene and purchase these awesome tracks. It blows me away the God given talent of these producers.

Tracklisting:

Tom Pooks - Sweet November
Purple Akala - Codecs
Nick Curly - Another Tearjerker(Nick Curly's 2nd Session)
Booka Shade - Darko(Booka's Funk Da Funk Mix)
Army Of One - Moon Bounce
Stan Kolev - Play
AMBit3 - Red Night
Brett Johnson - My Casio(Lavish Habits Remix) *Free Download from Beatport*
Fo-Sek - Heedron
Loafer, 16 Bit Lolitas - Dirtbike(16 Bit Lolitas Remix)
Scratch Massive Duoteque - Make It High(Duoteque Vehni Mix)
DJ Mastra, Paul Cari - Swinger's Delight feat. Q
Smash - Damaged(Stathis L remix)
James Harcourt - Loud & Low(Dub Mix)
DJ Mastra - Psychedelic Animal

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

With love from the Mint DJ family,

Geoffrey/Mint DJ

Playing somewhere new...be prepared!!!

Aloha fans of rhythmic sonic waves!

As some of you may have read, I played in El Paso Texas a few weeks ago. (Great show by the way!) I had never played there before and wanted to play well and connect with the crowd...you know make them shake what the good Lord gave them.

I had a few things in mind to hopefully accomplish this objective. First, if you are anything like me, getting comfortable behind a new DJ set-up is essential to having fun and playing well. When playing somewhere new there are always new challenges; equipment you are not familiar, awkward placement mixer/turntables/CD decks, the booth monitor position and many different factors. The fun is trying to overcome those challenges and rock the party!

Personally for me, the position of the booth monitor and being able to hear everything is my first priority. I cue (listen) to the incoming track in my right ear and listen to the booth monitor out of my left ear. I find most people are opposite. The sooner my ears adjust and I can balance the volume in my ear and the headphones the sooner I can get into my groove.

So here is my solution...I build a mini 5 track set to start. Before the gig, I will dial in the bpms, tempo settings and mix in timing. This provides some direction and confidence to start my set.

Yet here is a huge factor to consider...knowing what the crowd wants to hear. You ask, "Geoff, how can I know what the crowd wants to hear before I even get there, especially if the gig is out-of-town." Well I ask the promoter to tell me about the event, what style the other DJs will be playing, and what time slot I have. If you are a peak hour DJ and the promoter is booking you for one of the opening sets, either you need to prepare some early evening, warm up tracks or you might ask the promoter why he wants peak hour music early in the evening. The more you know about the theme of the club or the expectations of the promoter will help improve your enjoyment of time behind the decks. Of course this is irrelevant if you where solely booked for your particular style.

So you nailed the first 5 mixes and the crowd is going crazy... job well done. What if after your first 5 prepared tracks the crowd isn't quite jumping for joy. This is where you have to start throwing some new sounds at them to find out what direction to take the crowd. I prepared primarily a progressive set for my gig in El Paso yet the place wasn’t quite feeling it. I decided to play some housier tracks and suddenly the dance floor was filled and I had them in the palm of hand. From there I was pulling the funkiest house tracks and was able to put smiles on there faces and mine.

Being prepared and being flexible will make the difference between a good set and a great set. I am excited about my experience in El Paso and what I learned. I hope this as been informative or at least entertaining.

Saved by grace,

Geoffrey

A new DJ set on TWBP

Aloha,

I hope everyone is getting into the Christmas season. It is actually cold today in Arizona so it helps getting into a festive mood. Our family has put up the Christmas tree, hung lights on the house and started some shopping for the kids so no turning back now.

I have a new set over on This Week at Beatport. I love the music and the programming really moves. Unfortunatley I did not nail all the mixes. Some were a bit off yet it is very honest. You can also find the tracklisting for my set at This Week at Beatport. Make sure to download other sets especially Pete Smalls, the host. His sets are built using Ableton Live and he does a great job.

Well I need to get to work on my big two hour New Year's Eve mix. Talk to you soon.

Geoffrey / Mint DJ

El Paso was a blast!

For those who may not have heard, I played down in El Paso last Wednesday. It was a great night to shake your booty right before Thanksgiving. Promoter Joey and the crew (Half Moon Entertainment) who brought me out are first class people. I was very honored to play at their new location at Fat Mary's. Rick(Lush DJ) and Joey(Sol B) opened up and were fanatastic, dropping progressive, electro and some dnb which was awesome. After feeling out the crowd I dropped some house and it all broke lose. People were dancing even after the lights went up.

Here are some pics for you to enjoy!


Lush DJ


Sol B


Mixin' in some love


Moving the crowd

Hopefully I will get another chance to play El Paso in the future and make sure to bring more house music.

I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving!

Geoffrey / Mint DJ

Surprise deep and progressive house DJ set

Howdy Y'all

Well as promised, here is a surprise DJ set commissioned by This Week at Beatport. Feel free to to visit This Week at Beatport for more DJ sets by other great artists. I think it is the best mix I have ever put together in terms of beatmatching and flow. It is amazing since I had a very short amount of time to put it all together.

Here is the tracklisting:

G-Pal - A Day Of Birth
Sunset Blvd - Highway 61
Absorb Projects - Homeless
Stereovox - Burnin(Andrea Bertolini Meets Ivano Coppola Stereo Seven Touch)
H.O.S.H., Solomun - Sonnenbrand
Slok - Sense Of Love
Fakin Moves - Pretty Gritty
Mike Hiratzka, Dennis Roseth - The Game(Mike Hiratzka Remix)
Eddie Cumana, Eva - The Doobie Track(Cumana's Minimal Dub Mix)
Danny Tenaglia, Byron Stingily - Why Can't You Be Real(Danny's Hard Dub)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Geoffrey/Mint DJ

The Deep House Mix v. The Progressive House mix

Aloha,

I have recently been asked to play a night that is geared more towards progressive house fans. So last night I figured I would practice a bit and spin only progressive house compared to my typical deep house. I am sure for some of you this is a no brainer yet spinning these two genres are completely different in terms of working the transitions and length of the actual mix.

Most deep house tracks carry the melody and bassline almost to the very end of the track whereas progressive house breaks down much earlier. It leads me to wonder if a producer's song structure is influenced by how the DJ actually uses the track. I know when I produced dance music, before I became a DJ, all my DJ friends were asking me to extend the intros and outtros to allow for longer mixing. I am constantly reminded of mistakes I made in producing tracks by the very things that frustrate me now about certain tracks.

OK back to the topic. Deep house mixes are shorter, creating either exciting shifts during the mix or short seamless transitions. Progressive house mixes succeed with the length of the mix and integration of both tracks elements producing a short musical play between both tracks. So what is essential for great progressive house mixes you ask...great beat matching. All good DJing starts with clean, consistent beat matching. Spinning progressive house and striving for the perfect 2 minute mix will definitely test your beat matching skills and your ear for more intricate programming.

Hopefully this was somewhat informative or entertaining.

Geoffrey / Mint DJ

A special mix coming your way! What is TWBP?

Howdy everyone,

What is TWBP? TWBP stands for This Week at Beatport. My friend Pete Smalls (awesome producer/remixer) has came up with a great, new website that features some of the latest tracks from Beatport. His website This Week at Beatport will feature two mixes; one from Pete and one from a rotating list of resident DJs. If you are a DJ or a dance music fan, this site will soon be a great resource for new music.

It also happens that yours truly put together a mix for TWBP! So....come November 1, everyone will get a new set from my podcast. If you can't wait, run on over to This Week at Beatport to listen to both Pete and my set.

I hope the cooler weather is treating you well unless you are my friends in the southern hemisphere or live near the equator. You know who you are...Jason and Polly.

Geoffrey / Mint DJ

Mint DJ's October/Fall Deep House Mix

Howdy y'all,

This month I am delivering a new hour and half mix of some of the tunes I have been spinning this past month. Due to a busy schedule, this mix was pretty spontaneous yet came out really good. One, maybe two mixes are a little off but the tracks rock! Please feel free to post your feedback.

Tracklisting
Anil Chawla - Disco Stew
DJ Sulli - Up All Night(Sullis Stripped Mix)
Troydon - Close Your Eyes
Chicago Transit Authority - Being There
Cesar Vergel - Quick Fix
Booka Shade - In White Rooms(Mexico Mix)
Marco de Souza Patrick Turner - PBC
Bryan Jones - Bump This
Q Big Rufus Dunkel - Blackhole
Budai & Vic - Meeru
Phunk Police - The Problem
Spare Time - Lazy
Stan Kolev - Music Non Stop
Suroh Stathis L - Sentimientos(Stathis L)
Daniel Taylor & Loco Dice - Mord(Loco Dice Remix)

All these tracks were purchased from Beatport.

Mint DJ / Geoffrey

October / Fall Mix has been recorded!

Sorry for the delay yet good things are in store. The set was recorded last night and I should have it posted tonight.

Geoffrey / Mint DJ

Last Friday - The Ballroom at Myst

This was a fun night and I was excited to play some new music. I am stoked an online entertainment rep snapped my picture. Thank you to Napkinnights.com.

Geoffrey / Mint DJ

Song selection and creating an enjoyable listening experience

Howdy!

So I am planning my next mix and thought I would share some thoughts about my process. Much of my process I have to attribute to what I have learned from Dave Epstein and Jon Boy; two good friends who were willing to listen to my first couple of mixes.

Mood…what kind of mood do I want to create? What kind of mood am I in when thinking of a new mix? What was the mood of my last mix? Do I want to go big and make a peak hour set or select tracks with an emphasis on drums? Do I want to go deep and groovy? The mood of the mix is where I start.

Once I figure out what mood I want to create in the mix, I start previewing tracks and making a list of tracks that fit that mood. At this point there is no programming,(order of the tracks) just a list. I have perhaps 30 tracks I haven't used in other mixes so it takes time to weed out stuff and try to remember tracks that worked well when I played out.

Once I have a list to work off, I decide what direction I want to take inside the mix. So many mixes start mellow and build and that’s it. I have tried to create valleys or the “up and down the mountain” type of mix. Typically I try to establish a great opening track and start looking for tracks that mesh well. I am always looking for the next track to either move the energy up or down depending on what effect I am trying to create in the flow.

Jon Boy had a great piece of advice...place your big, showcase tune about 3/4 of the way to the end. This track doesn't have to be some big, peak hour monster. You know, its the track that just rocks your world. This is the track that you are driving the listener to and then beyond.

Dave said he likes to throw in a "curveball" track that works with the theme yet is strange or different. This is tough because most of us select and buy tracks that drive within the guardrails of our style. For my deep house mixes, this might be where I drop a crazy tech house groover that sticks out from the other tracks. The real talent comes in selecting the right tunes.

Selecting the right tunes is truly the least recognized talent of the club/rave DJ. Song selection is your style yet basically its your ability for programming. DJ sets typically are most enjoyable when the tracks work together and can take a listener on a ride. The whole "take the listener on a journey" is a bit over used for what can be accomplished on an eighty minute CD. When I think of a journey, thoughts of an eight hour set performed in a club rings more true.

Well I hope this has been beneficial. Please feel free to post your thoughts, comments or if I have missed anything. Hopefully my next mix will meet my own tough scrutiny.

Geoffrey / mint DJ

ps. congrats go to Dave Epstein and Jon Boy(together as 4th Dimension) for being selected to play the Las Vegas Dance Music Conference coming up in September.

Getting booked as a DJ

Aloha,

Occasionally I am asked about how to get booked as a DJ, playing in clubs, lounges and/or bars. It can be tough for up and coming DJs to learn the industry and how to get started. Below are some ideas that may be helpful when you are ready to move from the bedroom to the club. I am not saying this is a complete list, just things I have learned and have worked for me.

1) Play every show you can at first, even if there is no pay involved. The experience will pay off.

2) Get to know the promoters and DJs that run and operate your local record shop. Most promoters and DJs that work in the local record shop are available during the day. It is hard to strike up a conversation about your demo in a loud, busy club.

3) Your demo cd...make it honest! Don't fix your mix with software. So your first decent demo has a bad or sloppy mix. Keep it! Over time as you work on your skills, your improvement will be recognized and hopefully rewarded.

4) When scouting a club, make sure your musical style matches with what the patrons want to hear. "Will people in this lounge want to hear happy hardcore?" "Will people in this dance club want to hear trippy IDM?"

5) Be seen! Club promoters and DJs typically book people they know and can trust. It takes time to get to know people yet people do business with people, not strangers.

6) Be honest if someone asks you how many people will come out to see you play. If you know that only 5 of your best friends will make it out than “5” is what you say to the promoter. Bottom line, be honest with people.

7) Make sure you show up on time and touch base with the promoter a few days before the show. This lets the promoter know that you are dependable and serious about what you do.

8) Use the internet! With all the opportunities to meet people, upload your mixes and network, the internet can be a great way to let people know who you are.

9) Know your price! If you are going to meet a promoter or DJ that might book you, be ready to tell them how much you charge. This is tough sometimes to figure out. Depending on how long they want you to play, I would say $50 is a good starting point. If you have friends that DJ on a regular basis, they should be able to give you some insight into what to charge.

10) Always have demos on you, where ever you go. You never know who you will meet.

Well I hope this helps!

Geoffrey / Mint DJ

The July Mix - Deep to Tech

Hello Everybody,

Well here in Arizona the temperature is over 100, I have picked a new monthly residency and have a new mix for you. Hopefully this mix will bring a smile to your face as you hang out at the pool, the beach or work. Wouldn't it be nice if adults had long summer breaks like when we were in school.

The July mix brings together two fun genres; deep house and tech house. I was surprised how many tracks I selected for this mix that have vocals. I typically only buy dub or instrumentals yet I had some great vocal tracks to showcase. All tracks can be purchased for legal download at beatport..

Please feel free to post your feedback.

Mint DJ / Geoffrey

Tracklisting
Dr. Sparkle - Curb Feelers Theme
Johnny Fiasco - All Night - Double Dub Rerub
Amit Shoham - Universal Message
DJ Hal - Don't Give It Up - LawnChair Generals Mix
Untitled Orchestra - Lullaby - Dub Mix
Rajo - We are
Esoterik Spirit Catcher - Starwaves - Spirit Catcher Remix
Switch - Shifty
Undercover Agency - Flow feat Cheray ONeal(House Remix)
The Beard Martinez - For Me feat. Philippa Hanna - Martinez Mix
Ryel K Deep - Just Breathe
Dr. Sparkle - Whiskey Dents

Zip tie fix for Sony Headphone

Hello,

My good friend Dave Epstein gave me some advice on how to keep my Sony MDR-V700 headphones from cracking around the earphone stem. Use small plastic zip ties and use a criss cross configuration. I would suggest doing this as a preventative measure. I was really bummed when my last pair cracked. Hopefully this will reduce the possibility of that happing again. Below are some pictures of my headphones.




And yes . . . I will have a July mix for everyone.

Geoffrey/Mint DJ

Mint DJ launches Myspace page

Well, I was finally sucked into the myspace universe. You can't deny the networking opportunities and decided to make a page. If you ever wondered what my influences are or other interesting information, you can now read it at Mint DJ's myspace page.

If you currently have a page or planning to make one, please put in a friend's request.

Mint DJ / Geoffrey

April's Deep House Mix

Happy Easter!

Thank you for everyone's feedback recently to my decision to change from a monthly mix to a quarterly mix. The April mix has some great new music and my mixing is pretty good. The tracklisting is listed below in case you want to add one or two songs to your collection. I currently buy all my music from Beatport.com.

As some of you may know I use to buy all my music from EDM Digital. When I made the transition from progressive to deep house, I started buying my music from clickgroove.com and Beatport. I recently visited EDM Digital to find out they have stopped operations. It is unfortunate because they had a great website and was able to attract some very solid producers.

Again thank you for supporting my mix sets by downloading them and your encouraging posts. Have a great spring.

Geoffrey Wilcoxson / Mint DJ

Tracklisting

The Persuader - The Beauty Of Final Causes
Fred Everything - Next To Me feat. Roy Davis Jr.
Case - Subliminal
Stan Kolev - Deep This
JT Donaldson - Trust Me(Dub Rework)
Discouraged Ones - Wayback
Light 4 Lines - Ocean(Dub Mix)
Tomahawk - Is Music
Miguel Migs - Ive Been Thinking(Dub Mix)
Galletly - They Been Playin Me(Cheeky Mix)
Vic Vegas & Ethan Klein - Heartbreaker
East Coast Boogiemen Young Governors - Thinking About You
Amberflame - Subzero(D-Pulse Remix)

All these tracks can be found at www.beatport.com.

No more monthly mix...now quarterly

Aloha Everyone,

Well you may be wondering where the April mix is and when will I post it and podcast it. I have decided to try to drop one new mix every quarter. You think it would be easy to record one mix a month. I have some things in my life that have taken a priority over the monthly mix. For those who have gotten accustomed to a mix very month, I apologize. I do have a new mix in the works, so hang tight. I love DJing, finding new music and continue to spin weekly at Furio in Scottsdale.

Please feel free to drop me a line or post your feedback.

Mint DJ / Geoffrey

Collect More Bees with Honey

Hello everyone,

I wanted to pass along some news...I have recently had an online article published. You can read the article here. I want to thank Tastyfresh for believing I had something worthy to pass along. I realize I am not the most skilled DJ out there, yet I know its important to be responsible, professional, and friendly. Hopefully the article will provide some food for thought.

Geoffrey / Mint DJ

The March Podcast!

Howdy everyone!

Back to some funky deep house to get your body moving! Thank you for everyone who posted their feedback for February's mix. The March mix was a lot of fun to put together. Most of these tracks have proven to be solid room movers over at Furio for my weekly residency.

The past couple of weeks have been tough to keep my regular Thursday night because of work therefore I have been spinning on Saturday nights. Definitely a different feel with people ready hear things kicked up a notch on Saturday nights. I am very thankful and appreciative for the flexible management at Furio. It helps that I am the only DJ they have employed to play.

I have some great tunes lined up for April. See you then.

Geoffrey/Mint DJ

The February Mix

Aloha everyone!

Welcome to 2006! February's mix is some deep Nu Jazz and a bit of deep house. This is typically the sound I drop the first hour or so at Furio. Hopefully you will find it super groovy for your late night excursions!

Thank you for all the feedback from the New Year's Eve mix. I really enjoyed putting that mix together.

Mint DJ / Geoffrey

Some new pictures

Here are some pics from a local festival I played back in November. Thank you Bobby for snapping the pics.