Cristoph Shares His Top 10 Tips For Playing An Open-To-Close Set

An eminent Newcastle native and progressive house luminary, Cristoph is one of the most experienced, talented, and knowledgeable artists in dance music. This electronic music virtuoso has recently set the stage for his O2C North American Fall Tour, embarking on a two-month journey on October 13th in Chicago. With scheduled stops in Houston, Brooklyn, D.C., Toronto, Seattle, Denver, Los Angeles, and more, this tour promises a unique experience.

Snag tickets and learn more about Cristoph’s Open-To-Close Tour Here

Cristoph’s “O2C” tour stands out for its no-frills approach, featuring no openers and an extended open-to-curfew performance at each venue. With 15 shows lined up, Cristoph will treat audiences to over 78 hours of sensational music, making this tour an extraordinary musical marathon.

This year has been particularly action-packed for Cristoph, with appearances at renowned festivals like Seismic Dance Event, Beyond Wonderland, and ARC Festival. Additionally, he has headlined club shows across the continent, solidifying his position as a global dance music icon.

As his popularity soars and his meteoric rise in North America continues, Cristoph’s O2C tour is poised to capitalize on this momentum.

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The exceptional demand for his Toronto show led to the swift addition of a second performance after the initial November 4th show sold out instantly, marking a significant milestone in his career. Magnetic Magazine recently linked up with Cristoph so he could dive into his top 10 tips for delivering unforgettable open-to-close DJ sets, offering a glimpse into the secrets behind his remarkable success.

Preparation Of Songs Based On Specific Times And Moods

Some O2C sets are longer than others. I will create Rekordbox folders that will reflect the show’s time. This will be broken up as early // warmup // peak time // Cristoph classics // and more. That way, I can easily navigate to the appropriate music without searching too hard.

Check out Cristoph’s latest EP, FaCet Vol. 2.1:

Experimenting, Testing, and Practice

I have not played a lot of these time slots for a while, so I will be practicing and testing mixes before and between the weekends to make sure the musical flow is spot on.

You will surely hear plenty of music released on my label, Consequence of Society, from the past 18 months and stuff that I do not usually get to play out.

Nutrition

Nutrition for this tour is key. I like to stay in shape and go to the gym daily. A healthy diet throughout this period will be essential for physical and mental stamina.

Footwear

This may sound a bit weird, but footwear is super essential. If I am going to be standing up for more or less 7 hours on a run of shows, then I will need decent support and comfort. (I’m afraid there will be no heels this time).

Protecting My Ears

Looking after my ears is a must. Monitors can be brutal on the ears in some venues, so I will take it easy and have the levels lower earlier in the night. This is where the practice comes into play. Being familiar with tracks will help me mix better with lower monitoring levels.

Crowd Expectation is Critical

Different cities present different environments and demographics, so knowing the market will help. I have played all the cities on this tour more than a few times and at different levels, supporting clubs, headlining clubs, festival plays, etc.

Hopefully, I understand each crowd’s expectations for me, and everyone coming to support me will have a great night.

A Solid Schedule is Key

Plan travel properly and have time for R&R before and after each show. I have 78 hours of playing time over 15 shows on this tour plus one festival play halfway through, then the same number of shows penciled in over the five weeks after that on four continents. Never take the last flight option, even if that means setting the alarm for a little earlier.

Have Help If Needed

I usually travel solo, but for this tour, I will have someone to take the weight off the daily touring ‘stuff.’ That allows me to concentrate more on my performance.

Be In The Moment

I plan on really enjoying this tour. It is a chance for me to stretch my musical legs and dive deep into all my favorite facets of electronic music. I will play as if I were on the dancefloor, smiling and getting a kick from the music.