There are very few DJs who understand the art of warming-up, and indeed, it is an art.
Here are some tips by Swedish DJ Joel Mull on Beatportal:
1) Know who’s playing before and after you
2) Take it easy, no peaks
3) The longer the better: a warm up set shouldn’t be rushed
4) Connect with people
5) Prepare, prepare, prepare. You need to play the right music for the right room.
6) Don’t play big tracks. Your job is to set the mood for the headliner to play the floorfillers.
7) No songs and more drums. Stay away from big breakdowns and try to find music that is more stripped back and percussive
8 ) Organise your music
9) Don’t rush mixes. It’s about creating a smooth ride that evolves over time.
10) Use technology, wisely
11) The size of the room matters. Big rooms = energetic music. Basements = spacey minimal, FX and drums
12) Closing tracks. Try not to close with a track that is hands in the air, do it with a track that’s a bit flat, with nothing too noticeable about it and easy to mix.
13) Patience. The room might be full, the crowd might be asking you to play it harder, but you should hold back the urge to bang it
14) Hypnotize. If you can get people to close their eyes and really feel the music, you’ve done a superb job. Try to close those eyes.
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- “Humm… is it warm enough?”
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- “Express boredom during the other dj’s set”
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- “Glasses are cool”
Anything to add? 
