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Re: DJ career... is it worth it?

quote:

Originally posted by Mortyman Okay, so I've been DJing for about 1 and a half years now, and all I want to do is pursue a career as a DJ. Now, I think I'm a pretty good DJ... actually, no, I think I'm a damn good DJ, not trying to gloat, but there's a time and a place for it. Sorry, anyway, now I think that with my skills as a "TRANCE" DJ, that I have the ability to have what it takes to have the title "DJ". I also know that to become some "big-shot, superstar" DJ, you obviously need the right people skills, know who's who, where to throw parties, how to throw parties, etc, etc. But I've noticed one exceptional fact when I hear all these big-time DJ names that I look up to and wish I could be in their shoes. And this leads me to the point of this thread. Is it possible to become a famous, touring DJ without having your name attached as a producer? Because when I think about it, every single DJ that I've heard at every single party (minus the little parties and local DJ's ) they have been DJ's that have produced atleast 1 track. I know I'm not the only person out there that has these aspiring DJ dreams, but I am one to act upon them and try and to get myself setup. I don't mind taking baby steps, little by little working my way towards this goal... but am I going to have to go out and start producing before I have Trance Energy knocking on my door?

it takes about 6 months of regular practice to be a "good" dj, once you have it down, you have it down, it doesnt go beyond beatmatching in the DJ boot really, save for the extra equipment n shit, but that doesnt take a rocket scientist to master either,

Producing is the key to making it in the buisiness, it is a world of difference, when you are spinning your own music, then you are a musician more so than a DJ, and i agree with others that its crowd control in addition to mixing ability, and not so much just skill but also usage of it, like certain DJs overkill effects, they ruin their sets, others can beatmatch all day but cant do track selections to save there mother from a life of prostitution,

All in all, you cant aim to be a DJ by profession, you have to remain in what many call the "real world" go to college pursue a carreer and work your ass off on the side with your music interest, if you are decent, or hopefully good at it, and more importantly you get the breaks needed to make it, you could go places, once you have residency and begin producing then its more of a career not a hobby.

quote:

Originally posted by caddyshack thanks Plato.. anyway, I don't know of any productions by judge jules, although there are a few mixes by him

he's done loads of stuff. just under random alias'

Eddie Halliwell on the other hand...

I'd just like to add that knowing how to mix well in a controlled private area with perfect monitoring is absolutely fucking simple. It gets more difficult when you play at a noisy club with imperfect monitoring and a crowd of 300+ in front of you. Until you have a lot of experience from gigs you have a lot to learn still.

quote:

Originally posted by Ste just do it as a hobby, why does everyone want to make it so big and be famous. just do it for the music.

I don't see whats wrong with dreaming of making a living doing the one thing you love more than anything? James Holden said it best, theres probably no other job in the world better than travelling across the globe, playing records you love to people who love them. Except maybe inventing new lego . I wouldn't even care to be rich doing it, just earning enough to live comfortably would be more than enough for me. I love the music and I love sharing it to other people (note I'm not a DJ yet, though I'll be buying decks within a few weeks and already have plans to throw some parties this summer).

quote:

it's very easy to sit back and logically come up with an answer like that... but the fact of the matter is, you really have no idea, nor do a lot of us.

I think I've got a point here. I mean, there are a lot of "good tracks" out there. When your sitting back listening to ASOT or GDJB or something, and you hear a nice track come on, you say "hmm whats this?," but you probably don't give it a whole lot of thought.

Then when you hear a really awesome track come on, you jump up and say "holy shit! what is THIS??"

My entire point is that you have to set yourself out from the rest of the crowd somehow if you really want to be really successful. Not that its impossible to make a good living from music either way, but Morty is talking about making it BIG, as in superstar. So my answer to him us, if you want to make it really big, you have to set yourself apart from the rest of the pack somehow. If you take the production route, you're gonna have to come up with something that really blows people away, and your going to have to keep doing it.

Random example: Mark Otten. Mushroom Therapy was a pretty popular track, people loved it. It stood out from most other random ASOT tracks. Since then, whenever someone plays a new track or remix of his, everyone perks up and says "hey! new mark otten!" Thats pretty much how it goes. You have to grab peoples attention.

The other way to get big is to do your own thing as a DJ. That means not playing the same old tracks that everyone else is playing. Especially since your a trance DJ. Trance listeners love to latch on to the anthem of the week and beat it to death until you can't identify it anymore short of dental records and DNA. Not that a crowd won't be expecting you to play the megahit of the month, but you have to really mix it up and set yourself apart. There are a million other DJ's out there who are pretty much interchangeable with Tiesto and the rest. If you don't want to fight through them, go around them.

Re: DJ career... is it worth it?

quote:

Originally posted by Mortyman Okay, so I've been DJing for about 1 and a half years now, and all I want to do is pursue a career as a DJ. Now, I think I'm a pretty good DJ... actually, no, I think I'm a damn good DJ, not trying to gloat, but there's a time and a place for it. Sorry, anyway, now I think that with my skills as a "TRANCE" DJ, that I have the ability to have what it takes to have the title "DJ". I also know that to become some "big-shot, superstar" DJ, you obviously need the right people skills, know who's who, where to throw parties, how to throw parties, etc, etc. But I've noticed one exceptional fact when I hear all these big-time DJ names that I look up to and wish I could be in their shoes. And this leads me to the point of this thread. Is it possible to become a famous, touring DJ without having your name attached as a producer? Because when I think about it, every single DJ that I've heard at every single party (minus the little parties and local DJ's ) they have been DJ's that have produced atleast 1 track. I know I'm not the only person out there that has these aspiring DJ dreams, but I am one to act upon them and try and to get myself setup. I don't mind taking baby steps, little by little working my way towards this goal... but am I going to have to go out and start producing before I have Trance Energy knocking on my door?

I've been DJ'ing for the same amount of time as you. I have my own clubnight and have played in cities all over the world. I've started working on my own productions recently, and that is the way to go. Once you are able to bang out quality productions, that is what will set you apart from everyone else. My situation is a bit diffrent than yours though, I didn't decide one day that I wanted to become a DJ. I was lucky enough that it just sort of happened, for me it has never been about wanting to be like someone or wanting the attention. Like someone said earlier in thread, do it for the love of muisc plain and simple. Good luck!

quote:

Originally posted by montie to "make it" in the sense that you can support yourself financially as a DJ requires lots and lots of hard work, persistence, putting up with crap you won't be able to stand and luck.

Very well said.

as someone earlier said... saying "I'm a good DJ" implies only that you can beatmatch.
and that you like the records you play.

woo frickin hoo.

the reason Djs are superstars (please forgive me, I hate superstars) or even big names is b/c as EVERYONE else has said above, they've set themselves apart.

Producing is perhaps the easiest way.
Another way is promotions. Promote yourself, whatever ... that might be connections but promoter a NIGHT, make it into the next Home @ Space or Bedrock, now you're turning heads.

No shortcuts. Face it, you're just playing records.. There's a million other people who can do what you do, so you'd better be doing it for the love.

Also what Sean said, playing in a club setting is much more difficult, or say, to a hostile crowd who wants to hear dnb or funky house?? How are you going to handle that, its not all gonna be TAs on the floor.

to correct a couple people, Judge Jules makes tracks under Hi-Gate and he has another pseudonym as well that I forgot, cuz I don't follow 'trance' anymore.

James Zabiela has done several class remixes in the past couple years, one of which appeared on Bedrock and another on End Recordings, to name two.

i dont think any dj has anytrhing unique apart from 2 things

Records they play and how soon they play them

Lets face it eddie halliwell and james zabeila are the only 2 djs not including turntabilists who do anything creative or unique.

a dj should be able to mix in key and seamlessly beatmatch as standard, so i wouldnt call any one talented for it.

So what if somone can beat match so can everyone else lol. And its hardly unique to play basiclly the exact same set u played the week before in another counttry ( as ive heard armin and pvd do, exact same transitions between tracks and basiclly the same tunes in a row)

thats not talent or taking the crowd on a journey, its just playing records.

Look ate ferry corsten, he never even dj'd until after out of the blue was first released because he said people were booking him to play left right and center. Same thing with BT too.

Like u have any REAL chance of making it big time anyway

be real

^
possibly the biggest hater post I've ever read.
what a loser

produce.

quote:

Originally posted by dartman i would think that at some point you would actually want to produce. if your djing all the time you must really be into the music and at some point you naturally want to make some of it. maybe try remixing something. if you ever want to get to be HUGE your probably gonna have to get your hands into production, but dont do it because you think your gonna become famous, do it cause you want to.

Right on, I have come to the exact realization that if you wnat to get big youre going to have to produce, and plus there are so many benefits that you should naturally want to do this, I mean its your music and you like it, then on top of that another part of being a good dj IMO is exclusive tracks, and a small detail its money so u just killed three birds with one record.

You dont have to produce str8 off the bat.
Are you PLaying out locally atm?
Yes to be massive international, you must produce..but you can build a name locally by just PLaying out.
From personal experience it take a while to work out your style..that will work to a crowd.
I friggin hate it when internationals come out who are great producers but cannot DJ for shit.

Good luck man...Im kinda doing the same thing..Ive invested about 20 grand in it...it takes time and being the impatient ass that I am, I get pushy..try not to
(and get to know club owners...dont be a suck, but if you like them and they like you and they like your music..well its a big help)

ohh and

quote:

Originally posted by popop Lets face it eddie halliwell and james zabeila are the only 2 djs not including turntabilists who do anything creative or unique.

whatabout techno dj's?

Re: Re: DJ career... is it worth it?

quote:

Originally posted by 24K I've been DJ'ing for the same amount of time as you. I have my own clubnight and have played in cities all over the world. I've started working on my own productions recently, and that is the way to go. Once you are able to bang out quality productions, that is what will set you apart from everyone else. My situation is a bit diffrent than yours though, I didn't decide one day that I wanted to become a DJ. I was lucky enough that it just sort of happened, for me it has never been about wanting to be like someone or wanting the attention. Like someone said earlier in thread, do it for the love of muisc plain and simple. Good luck!

You see, this is something that I guess people like me want to happen to them. I want something like this to "just happen"

Now before the razing begins, I know I'm going to have to work hard for it, I'm not looking for any handouts, but it's lucky that this happens to people such as yourself.

I know it's all about having fun! And truthfully, that's the only reason I do it! I'm not looking for money, or fame... I just want to be plying the music I love infront of 20,000 people that love the same music I do. But it seems that it's only the BIG DJ's that get to do it.

Someone said earlier "so what, you can beat match". Yeah, so then what's so special about going to see Tiesto or PVD, I'm propbably just as good a DJ as them. All I know is I still go to see them because they have done many great things for this music, and I do what I can to support them. (looks like I just answered my own question too )

You think it's about the money, here's a piece of tidbit for ya... I actually paid out the ass to throw my first party and DJ at it. Not only did I get to do something I always to do, but it was a HUGE success, had a response that only had, so it seems, every person there asking when will I play agian? I do it for the love of it, not he money or fame! I made people feel the same way I feel when I hear it, and that's what counts

I want to produce, BADLY. but it's the time and money I don't have to put into it. You could have the next best trance "DJ" sitting at home waiting for it to happen... but without a dime in his pocket... it never will!

i kind of relate it to sports, there are tons and tons of great athletes out there in whatever sport but due to the sheer number such a small amount actually make it through and gain a career out of it. not only do you have to be good, you also have to be lucky. the right people have to hear you at the right times. its alot of skill and alot of luck. its a big chance to take to go all out but the rewards can be very lucrative.

you make your own luck

Danny howells spent 10 years as a warm up DJ
John Digweed spent most of his waking hours practising
Oakenfold is the best promoter dance music has seen

You have to be unique and in the right place at the right time. Look at Tiesto, Armin and Ferry, I saw Armin and Ferry's first ever UK gigs in the UK in 1999 (for Ferry) and 2000 (for Armin) at Peach. They were only producers then, but they happpened to be producing euro trance, the sound that was blowing up massive in the uk. Within a year it was huge in America, and they had a niche due to their productions. They were famed for being the 'pure' euro-trancers, only pvd or oakey could rival them. There was a gap in the market and they exploited it.

If you can find yourself on a crest of a wave then youve nailed it, its not all down to luck, you do need talent, but lets face it there are alot of talented people out there. Zabiela has made it big, because he was doing something different at a time when the prog scene was stagnating and needed something fresh. Hype got created and away he went, there were a few other djs like him doing kinda the same things at the time Steve Gerrard, Paolo Mojo, but it was him who was a bit better and got the press behind him.

Unfortuntaely the days of being a resident at a local club, getting booked round the country and then progressing to around the world are pretty much gone. The scene is totally global now, people in Australia havent heard of the guy thats played decent warm up sets in London. All the old skool cru that were there in 1980's have such a headstart on you, and they aint budging.

If you want to make it big, you need to be unique and to get your name out there. That basically means be a producer at the forefront of the next big thing.

Sorry to be so down, but other than Tiesto, Armin, Ferry& Zabiela who in the top 30 or so of the djmag poll has appeared from nowhere in the last 5 years?

Also ill predict that being a trance dj is not going to make you big. You need to do something different.

fergie DJ'd for 6yrs w/ out getting paid a cent...

i think it also helps if you have a pro mentoring you. i mean zabiela is only where he is because he caught sasha's attention...now they play together all the time.

why is the top 100 the bible?
Here, the best locals who havent produced still get to rock crowds of 10,000 peoPLe for closing sets...isnt that the guys dream?..they earn good livings by running their own nights that are succesful.. (although I spose in Europe it would be tougher)...
this is the way of things here...Luke Chable lives here but doesnt get half the gigs of some of the guys who are better at DJing..

I do agree to be massive worldwide you gotta produce...but you dont have to produce from word go..

Tiesto has been DJing for 15 years..only producing for like 7

i'd be fine just being a part time DJ, that'd be awesome

wat does it take to be a part time DJ? which seems more reasonable to me

If you ever want to play anywhere other than the parties you throw, then it's all about the connections that you make. Even productions won't get you that far unless you're making absolute anthems that are adored around the world.

quote:

Originally posted by Radagast I think: Depends on what genre your track is. A very good and original progressive track won't get as much recognition as a decent epic/anthem. Take DJ Yoshi - Dreamer (Luke Chable Remix) from ASOT 136. Personally I think it's the most original and outstanding track from that ASOT, or any since Solid Globe - Sahara was first aired on the show. But that's just my opinion. It will never reach popularity of Mushroom Therapy or Touched by the Sun because there are more people who like that stuff and won't give progressive (or any other genre) a chance. More people will give G&M Project - Sunday Afternoon (Nu-Nrg Remix) or Firewall - Killmanjaro from the same ASOT that Dreamer was aired more praise. Those will become more popular whether they are original or not. The only track I named that I dislike is Touched by the Sun, and I didn't even insult that so calm down.

Indeed, but he was asking what it takes to make it really big, so I gave him the low down.

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