After hundreds of nights spent in nightclubs over the last ten years there’s one important lesson I’ve learned:  DJs arn’t jukeboxes.  You can keep your requests to yourself.  On the other hand, asking what song a DJ is playing, or complimenting his current selection is usually welcomed (as UM reader and Chicago area DJ Lincoln Jones explained here).

Sometimes, this small gesture can reap unexpected rewards.

Take two recent nights at one of my favorite local lounges; a surreal carnival inspired space that not only serves excellent pizza but has a rotating line up of DJ talent whose awesome record collections seem to know no bounds.

The first night saw me and a close friend catching up over beers and pepperoni slices. Something on the soundsystem caused my jaw to drop.  It was “Chemical Beats”, a totally underrated (and longtime Cash favorite) track from the Chemical Brothers’ debut album Exit Planet Dust.  Stopping by the DJ booth on the way back from the bathroom I complimented the esoteric pick.  For the remainder of the night, the DJ slipped in as much Chem Bros as humanly possible, helping me relive the mind altering madness of the concert in October.

The second night in question had a similar twist; out of nowhere Depeche Mode’s practically unknown B-side instrumental “Painkiller” began thumping through the speakers.  Immediately, I was transported back to the darkened confines of Mc Nichols Arena, circa 1998.  The same song acted as an intro for Mode as goosebumps rippled across my front row ticket holding neck.  After giving the DJ props and returning to my booth, I was shocked and delighted as he treated me to another rare DM goodie, their cover of Iggy Pop’s deliciously filthy ‘Dirt’.

It’s never a bad idea to pay your respects at the booth, especially since some DJs are willing to pay you back.