The Playlist Mistake Killing Your Sets
And your DJ software could be to blame
Hi there Denon Dissenters,
I’ve been thinking recently about how one of the things considered a ‘standard feature’ in ALL DJ software might actually be a massive problem.
Artificial structures like playlists can trap us in a certain way of thinking, without us even realising. They are literal lists which can feel like a set of tasks to complete instead of the foundation of creative and expressive sets.
In this newsletter I’m going to talk you through a big mindset shift I had when it came to how I thought about my playlists, and how it helped me avoid the problem of boring sets and panic behind the decks.
1️⃣ The problem with playlists
I used to treat my playlists like TED Talks—pre-planned, rigid, and completely doomed if the audience wasn’t into it.
Because my playlists were so scripted, I found it hard to improvise or change direction if things went wrong. This meant too many sweaty ass cracks as I scrambled to find tracks to play.
Eventually I realised a great set should feel more like a conversation and not like a to-do list.
Key mindset shifts
✅ Instead of a rigid list, think of your playlist as a learning framework
✅ Have a plan to shift directions based on the reaction
✅ Think about your tracks ‘purpose’, rather than only static factors like genre
2️⃣ Tell musical jokes
You know those people who go up on stage and make people laugh? I’m not talking about Tech House DJs, I’m talking about Comedians.
They regularly test new material and see how it lands. If a joke isn’t working they don’t just carry on with it for the rest of their gig. They pivot and try something different to see if it gets a better response. Or they pull out a joke they know always works to get the audience back on side.
I tweaked the way I categorise my tracks to help my playlists adopt a ‘test and learn’ approach, just like those professional chuckle nuggets:
🎯 Core Starters – Reliable openers to test the crowd’s vibe. These tracks give you your first reading of where you should take your set next
🎤 I Know This One – Crowd-pleasers with recognisable elements (vocals, remixes, or stems). These are great to throw in to re-engage a bored audience
⚡ Pivots – These are your panic destroyers. Pivot tracks help you change direction fast and smoothly. Think genre spanners, contrasting energy levels or tracks that can be mixed in fast without clashing
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3️⃣ Master The Loop – Your Playlist’s Secret Weapon
Once you’ve completed the test and learn phase it’s time to move to what I call ‘the loop’. It’s where you gradually bring the energy up and down over and over. If things are going well you’ll spend most of your time here.
🔥 Momentum Boosters – Tracks that gradually increase energy if the crowd is on-side
🚀 Peak Energy – The high points in your set. They don’t have to be face-melters, just the set’s most intense moments
🌊 Groove Resets – Lower-energy tracks that let the crowd catch their breath. They bring your sets down from the peak whilst keeping things cohesive
But what if something goes wrong? Easy - drop a pivot track and return to the test and learn phase.
This approach has completely changed the way I DJ. It’s eliminated stress if something doesn’t work and given me just enough structure whilst retaining flexibility.
Let me know in the comments if you’re going to try it out in your library or if there’s a different approach you use.
A small ask
I love writing this newsletter. It’s a chance to explore topics that may not warrant full videos (or let me know what you’d like me to cover).
If you’ve found it valuable I’d love for you to share it with some of your DJ buddies so we can make Hot Cue the go-to spot for smarter DJ libraries 🙏
This approach is brilliant! Do you set up playlists for each of the categories you identify, or use some other method to identify a track, such as a “pivot” track or “momentum builder” track?
This mindset shift is exactly what a lot of DJs miss out on when they get stuck in the script. I love the comparison to comedians testing the crowd’s vibe and being able to adjust mid set is key to keeping things fresh. What’s your go to pivot track when you feel like the set might be heading in the wrong direction?