NSK

Theming a night into a musical box can be such a tricky exercise at a nightspot, simply because there is zero discipline the majority of the time from both the featured DJs and the revellers. I understand the intentions behind a musical-themed night. It’s noble because a musical-themed night will usually feature genres that do not necessarily always get the attention; genre’s like Kizomba, Old School, anything, which again is pretty noble. However, two hours into a musical-themed night, and you will have a reveller come to you... When are you going to play amapiano? I’ve been operating on a professional level in this industry for 13 years and some change. 

Trust me when I tell you this, musical-theme nights, how noble they may be, just never really work in the Namibian context. Which is sad, because I refuse to believe that everyone wants to listen to one genre the whole night, every night (a reference to amapiano). 

I do believe that there is a market and space for other genres. However, what usually happens is that the amapiano faithful are dominant and loud, giving DJs the false sense that they are “killing it”, while in actual fact, what unfairly happens is that a few loud and dominant people end up dominating the sound for the night. 

Experienced DJs would hold the line. Experienced DJs would take the time and explain to a reveller that it’s a musical-theme night – as per advertised – and that the sound will only be that certain genre for the night, or the majority of the night. 

However, it becomes problematic when you have a young and inexperienced clout-chasing DJ on the line-up, who will most likely buckle under the pressure to change the sound of the musical theme to satisfy the few dominant and loud ones.   What would be the ideal situation that can lead to a successful musical-theme night? 

Choose the right DJs; DJs with experience; DJs who will understand the mission. Then, have a deliberate conversation with the resident DJs of the spot. Avoid falling into the trap of believing that you can pull off a musical-theme night on a Friday or a Saturday. No matter who or what you are, Fridays and Saturdays are amapiano days. It is what it is. Lastly, advertise the sh*t out of it. And no, a young post or story indicative of the musical-theme night on Instagram is not enough. You will need to arrange for radio, TV and newspaper interviews. 

You will need to excite by posting on all platforms, which in a sense will also educate whoever that the day will be limited to a certain genre. Otherwise, you will have problems.  You will have a situation where you end up playing amapiano during a hip hop-theme night because you did not do due diligence.   Until the next Loop, we say #GMTM                           

* Need an MC? I do not post naked pictures or have 100k followers but after 10 years of MCeeing, I think I can do the job. Contact me for a quote at naobebsekind@gmail.com