Crate Organization System

Importance of Crate Organization

Organized crates are of utmost importance to how I work as a DJ. That feeling of being lost amongst your thousands of songs while knee deep at a gig is a not a pleasant one. I have had many nights like this and you always regret it because after the gig is done, you lament how things could have gone so much better. I should have played that song, etc. You do not feel like you did you best.

Crate Organization is a Work in Progress

One thing you should take note of is that organization a record collection, or any collection really, will always be a work in progress. There will always be new and better ways to work and organize. There are some things that I have found that work for me, especially with gigs every week. There is no best way to organize your collection, only YOUR way. I do however think that there are some basic tips and best practices that you should follow.

The New Crate

This is the folder where you will have a collection of all your new tracks that you find during the week. Some will be new hot songs that will absolutely need to be played. The majority will be songs may or may not be a hit with the crowd. Keep these new tracks in a separate crate and folder until they stand the test of time and they become a regular part of your set. This will cut down on clutter while still allowing you to experiment and stay fresh by trying out new music at your weekly gigs.

The Main Crate

This is the folder that will be your main workhorse for your gigs. Every song on here has to be one that you will actually play at a professional gig. Keep your own personal choices which you think may or may not work to a minimum here. You want very little filler. This can be tough in the beginning because you are trying to build your collection and it seems small with only perhaps a few hundred songs. Every song in this folder can be played at one of your gigs and it will fit. This is your go to crate. When you are lost and trying to figure out what to play next, you go here.

Venue Specific Crates

I have experimented with crates that are venue specific. This could work great for you as another way of organizing your music. Each venue can have a different playlist and vibe and it could be easier to just work off one specific crate as you are doing your gigs around town.

The only reason why I tend to not spend too much time doing this is because I like the idea of being able to do any gig anywhere at any venue at any time with just a few select crates. I am not sure if this is the proper approach or the best approach in the long run. I feel like sometimes if you do this, you can get stuck playing similar sets at your gigs.