Two DJs, one booth, one set. It is written b2b on posters and in contracts, as in 'Artist A b2b Artist B'. Three DJs makes it b3b.
How it is played
The DJs alternate: one plays a track, the other cues the next. Some swap every record, some every two or three. There is no rule, so the pair agrees it beforehand or works it out in the first ten minutes. Both are reading the room at once, which is why a b2b tends to move faster and take more risks than a solo set.
How it is booked
- One set time, one slot, two names on the bill.
- Fees are agreed per artist, so a b2b costs the promoter more than a single booking.
- The booth needs four decks rather than two, and two sets of headphones.
- Both names go on the poster at equal size.
Why it happens
Festivals use b2b sets as a draw, because the pairing exists only that night. Artists use them to play with friends, or to make a slot neither would be offered alone.