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the smaller cities are easier to break into. You just have to be cool , and slowly in a way that is not perceptible become close with the people running the night. Now these djs will never let go because they realize that this is all they will ever get. So you have to unfortunately be really fucking cool, that they want to do you a favour, do them a favour, graphics design or flyer.
You can't be a dancer. Djs make a distinction between the ones that get high and flail and the djs who are super cool and fuck tanned girls. In fact once you are a dj, you don't dance, you don't get fucked up in public. I mean do drugs, just less than everyone else.
You also have to realize you are booked to bring people in. If you have no following, forget it.Unless you do the bitch work. So you should have a podcast. You should be posting in the forums these guys post in. Just so your name is seen. And if you have the proper internet plan, making it easy for people to be funneled to your site, they will know about you, because the worst thing you can say is , i dj too. If you can't draw your audience , why book you. Just like bands , you have to do the leg work. No label will sign a band that is unkown even if they are amazing. Your twitter following is worth more than your skill.
Another way , and probably the fastest way is to throw an event at the venue. You spend some money, yes you might take a loss but you make sure it is packed. You have the residents play obviously, and now you've made the transition. You hired them. Even if it was their venue, Now they will hire you. Now you need to just be cool, get along and make them like you. Because as good as you think you are, people , most anyways, hire who they like. But you have to do it right. You have to make that night better than theirs, and make them feel like they are a part of it. When you start, djing isn't really important. Because the djs and promoters don't care. They want someone they think will be good for them. So even tho it is your event, you don't take the headlining spot. Because your goal is not to dj once which will have no impact. Your goal is to have a killer event, and make those djs and promoters want to include you.
It is a fine art of getting your intentions and talents across without stating it. You cannot hardsell a promoter. Forget it. Until they know you, and do lines with you, yes you will have to do cocaine. In fact, you should always have some on you so that when they start jonsing, oh here you go. Anyways, until you are part of that circle, you are classified as a groupie. More on drugs.look at how much drugs everyone else does, and do less. You can't say no. drug users love company. But don't be a fucking cliche. Don't do it in public ever. Because the second someone not in the dj circle sees you do cocaine, you are not a user, you are an addict, and that translates to asshole and so on.
And something no dj does, at least local, is market themselves. How many times i've seen a dj play and not know who the fuck it is. Every time you play , is an opportunity to make a fan. And that fun will come back. And when you have a consistent turnout, you will be hired more regularly.
From there, you might do another night, or weasle your way in by befriending the management. Again, like any field, you have to be likeable, you have to be smart, you have to be the kind of person that stands out. When i see a dj wear black, i wonder what the fuck he is thinking, You want people to see you. They need to know who you are. So many djs , you can't even see their face. I used to have my own lamps. I would never mix from the other dj if i was playing when there are lots of people. Stop the music. Practice in front of a mirror, because some djs look fucking retarded. This isn't about jesus poses, but djing , is very image based. Being cool is part of your job.
WHen you are done. You need to mingle, Q codes are fucking great but business cards for the technology inclined where they can get a copy of that set. The problem is that people have no connection to djs. And trust me, they want to know.
But like everything, you have to keep a certain distance. Because you have to be more than just a normal person no matter how easy djing is. People should not see you as some ordinary dude. They should see you as an artist they like.
Fuck i could go on.
I would say 1% of djs have a clue. Which is kinda sad considering how simple the concepts are. And what ever you do , do not ever say a bad thing about anyone, dj promoter .... You can be nice, you dn't have to be everyone's friend but as you become popular , people will find any reason to think you are a cocaine addled dick head. Happened to me. But i trashed the other djs to no end because they were pathetic. And eventually, people no matter how talented you are, and i pissed people off because in 1 year, i mean they were jealous. I mean at the time , most djs found pitch riding like impressive. I mean i thought what i did was a joke, i mean compared to piano, but like people would need 3 mintues to get the right tempo. They had to touch the plater. THey couldn't scratch or beat juggle, they bought 2 records a week, and they just weren't really cool. So try not to stick out like that because you never want to be that guy everyone wants to pull down. The audience appreciates your skill, the promoters don't. NOr do the other djs. So getting hired is about being friends. But don't be too close. Close enough that you can be nice all the time. Far enough that you aren't around long enough to piss someone off.
And bribes. A bottle of champagne, a cheap investment will do wonders. Because you sort of do a forced you owe me. A gift sure, but the nature of gifts. you feel you owe them, and that is how you want it. But if you start giving shit too soon, you are a tool. And you just lost the respect and any chance,.
fuck i could go on.
fucking girls is a part of the strategy of being that guy that all girls love. Which just makes you more of artist , and people give you more attention than you deserve. Now when i say fuck girls, i don't mean use them and treat them like shit because the goal is to have an army of girls that fucked you and would fuck you again and will tell all their friends that you were fantastic. You have to be the guy , that is just full of love. As opposed to a player. Same thing. difference of perspective. But when you have a solid base of female fans, well that is money in the bank. Because they will come to see you, and when you play, you don't want a sausage fest because no matter what , that is your fault. BUt have girls, people will associate your name with fun. Also don't fuck too many girls. Too many and you are a asshole that uses people. Have a few girls you date for a bit but you are just too much of an artist and you just have so much love to give. yada yada. Also, with this currency, the other djs will; naturally want you to be apart of their plans. I know it sounds silly but trust me, having hot female friends is like a weapon of mass destruction. You will get invited to every party, you will be included in everything, because you = hot girls. Eventually, you just slide in.
There are many ways. SOme people can't do some things. I mean some people are just not cool. Personally , if you aren't a performer , i don't think you should be djing. If you aren't cool , you shouldn't be djing either. You are an artist, like a band. Your image is 50% of who you are.
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"This is why Superman works alone." GC
old stuff from days gone by (2001-2004)
Mad For Brad's gay little contest
Last edited by Looney4Clooney on May-05-2012 at 23:32
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