Open Format DJ– for some it's the absolute pinnacle of DJing, for others nothing more than pressing "play" on command. Hardly any term divides the scene as much as this one. And hardly any other type of DJ is simultaneously so widely praised and criticized. This is especially true if you not only work as a DJ but are also active as a music producer– perhaps even in several subgenres of electronic music.

I am writing this text deliberately from a personal perspective. Not from a theoretical distance, but from practical experience. From nights in clubs, from private events, from studio sessions, and from countless conversations with colleagues, promoters, and guests.

Between scenes, chairs, and drawers

Electronic music operates according to clear codes. Techno is techno. House is house. Afro house is not melodic techno. And those who move too freely between these worlds risk being viewed critically from all sides.
As a producer of multiple electronic genres, one is quickly perceived as "ambiguous." As a DJ playing open format, often as "not deep enough."

The problem: Authenticity is often confused with specialization in certain scenes.
Those who commit to a subgenre are considered credible. Those who speak multiple musical languages constantly have to justify themselves. Yet musical versatility is not a sign of arbitrariness – but of understanding.

Open Format DJ: The underestimated discipline

Open format is not a genre. It is a skill.
The ability to read spaces. To understand people. To build and maintain energy – across genre boundaries.

A good open format DJ doesn't just know the hits, but understands their impact. They know when a change of style makes sense and when it doesn't. They connect decades, cultures, and emotions. This is n't a playlist, it's dramaturgy.

And yet, open format is often ridiculed in club culture. Why?
Because it's difficult to measure. No clearly defined scene, no "pure" sound, no easy category.

Private Events: From DJ to Human Jukebox

It gets even more complicated at private events: weddings, birthdays, company parties.
Here, the DJ profession often boils down to fulfilling wishes and providing lighting and sound equipment. Spotify with a pulse, so to speak.

"Play something from the old days."
"Can you play the song right now?"
"Why don't you play it anymore?"

Many open format DJs know this feeling: reacting instead of creating. Managing expectations instead of building atmosphere. This is frustrating – especially when you produce your own music, develop concepts, and create soundscapes.

But there is also a truth here: these events often finance artistic freedom elsewhere.

Two worlds – one mindset

The crucial question is not: club or private event?
But rather: How do I position myself clearly and honestly in both worlds?

1. Clear communication

Define in advance what you are – and what you are not. Even at private events, you can set boundaries. Wish lists are fine, but constant background music is not.

2. Separation of roles

You are allowed to have multiple identities:
Open Format DJ for events.
Genre-specific DJ for clubs.
Producer for your own musical statement.
Not everything has to happen at the same time.

3. Own narrative

If you produce across multiple genres, tell the story behind them. Why this diversity? What connects the sounds? People accept diversity when it makes sense.

4. Quality instead of justification

In the long run, it's not the argument that convinces, but the performance. Those who move people remain credible – regardless of genre.

Conclusion: Champions League or jukebox? Both – if you allow it.

Open format DJing is neither inferior nor automatically elitist. It's a tool.
It can degenerate into a soulless jukebox – or into the highest form of musical service and art.

For music producers and DJs who don't want to be restricted, the path is more demanding. But also freer.
Authenticity arises not from restriction, but from attitude.

And perhaps that is exactly the true Champions League.