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In your opinion, what's the best way for a brand new DJ to get some gigs? If you're a DJ, how did you get your first show? word of mouth? thanks for the help,
DR86

lots of demo cds! and knowing someone higher up

Make friends with other DJs who are already playing out... they will be able to put you in contact with some of the right people.

There's no substitute to getting out there and talking to people. Go to a night you'd like to play at and ask the security / bar / other staff who the promoter or owner is. Go talk to them. People generally respond better to face to face meetings than someone just phoning them up - remember, if you are there you are already supporting their night!

Once you've made contact, persuade them you can bring something extra to the night. Avoid saying you can mix or play better than the current residents - the person you're talking to wouldn't have them as residents if they didn't like them! Remember, it's about persuading them to give you a go - if you criticise how they are running the night you are less likely to succeed.

Think from a promoter or owners point of view. If you've got someone standing in front of you asking for you to give them a go what would you want to hear in order to be persuaded? Especially if they haven't got a proven track record of playing in clubs? That's right... consider the bottom line... money! One of the best ways to get a go is to bring along loads of mates - this equals more money coming in for the night. Be warned though, deliver on your promises. If you say you'll bring 20 people along and only turn up with your 2 best mates the promoter won't be impressed.

My advice is don't just send out promo mixes. You'll likely only get back standard rejection letters (or nothing). Go to the places and give out the promo mixes personally to the people that matter. They'll then know who you are, and will probably listen to what you've given them.

And very importantly... follow things up. If you've talked to a promoter and / or given them a promo mix then give them a call a few days later to see if they liked it. They may have forgotton etc. but a quick phone call can remind them. And if they have listened to your mix ask them for constructive criticism, and take on board a bit of what they say. However, if they think your music is wrong for the night I'd generally suggest giving up. Don't change your music style just to play somewhere - stick to what you love otherwise it can become hard work and you just won't feel it as much.

Right, final piece of advice (otherwise I'll be typing all day ). If you're stuck and can't find anywhere to play consider setting up a night of your own. Be warned, this is hard work, but if you run the night you can play there as often or as little as you want.

EXCELLENT POST!!

Only one thing i would like to comment on:

quote:

However, if they think your music is wrong for the night I'd generally suggest giving up. Don't change your music style just to play somewhere - stick to what you love otherwise it can become hard work and you just won't feel it as much.

don't be afraid to change it up a little to get a gig. I've realized that, in this town anyway, people don't dance to trance in the club. I've seen a great DJ go in there and drop tracks like Tlit - Inivisble, Planet Perfecto Feat. Grace - Not Overy Yet '99, Lost Tribe - Gamemaster, etc. these are some of my favorite tracks, and the ones that got me into trance, but guess what? the dance floor was empty!

I've also seen house and breaks DJs drop sets there and pack the floor like sardines! It's just better stuff to dance to, period.

I like house and breaks, so i have started spinning them too, and if i played at the club, i would probably play more progressive house, progressive trance, and some breaks, to get the people dancing. maybe THEN throw in some trance.

But, i would never start playing something completely different, like drum and bass, or ambient, because i really don't care for those genres at all, whereas i like house and breaks, to dance to anyway.

so bottom line, be flexible in what you play, but don't completely sell yourself out.

Cheers JohnSmith

Y'know, I've been there, done that, and sharing advice is what makes this board great...

I see what you're saying there - what I was attempting to say first time was that I don't recommend playing something you don't really like. You might be able to mix it ok, but IMO the set won't have the edge it could have if you were playing stuff you love.

It all boils down to:
A) Play what you love
B) Play what people will dance to
C) Both A and B

C is obviously the best choice, but to hit that point can be difficult when you're first starting out. I always say this: keep doing what you love, and work hard at it, and you will succeed. If the crowd doesn't respond to you well one night and you're playing what you love, and mixing your best. Than that night at the club, or club in general may not be for you. There'll always be a place that enjoys what you play, so keep working hard at what you love, and you'll make it happen.

Thanks all for the advice, it REALLY helped me out a lot.
The only problem is that I'm still 17, meaing I won't get any club time, alos because there aren't any good clubs around here.....my DJ'ing would mainly be at parties and those types of events. That means that, UNFORTUNATELY, I'd be hard pressed to play some mainstream, hip-hop type shit to.

Anyway, thanks again for the info!

DR 86

Well at a house party all you have to do is get the hip hop out of the way.

Just burn a CD or two of the popular hip hop stuff and just throw it in a cd player and let it play for an hour or two at a house party until everyone is really hammard.
Then you tell everyone your gonna spin for a while, the ladies will start to dance to the trance, and nobody will have a problem with it.

Drunk people usually like trance. hahah

Dude I think it's great that your only 17. Just keep practicing and playing at small parties so taht you can fuckin rip it up when you do hit 19 (or whatever the legal age is there). YOu can just expolde and take the club scene by force.

Hope I've helped.

BTW, are there any club nights that play trance? I have never found any here in Vancouver Canada.

quote:

Originally posted by Seany_G Well at a house party all you have to do is get the hip hop out of the way. Just burn a CD or two of the popular hip hop stuff and just throw it in a cd player and let it play for an hour or two at a house party until everyone is really hammard. Then you tell everyone your gonna spin for a while, the ladies will start to dance to the trance, and nobody will have a problem with it. Drunk people usually like trance. hahah Dude I think it's great that your only 17. Just keep practicing and playing at small parties so taht you can fuckin rip it up when you do hit 19 (or whatever the legal age is there). YOu can just expolde and take the club scene by force. Hope I've helped. BTW, are there any club nights that play trance? I have never found any here in Vancouver Canada.

Haha, thanks for the motivation. I actually started to DJ when I was fourteen, but it was at school dances using there equiptment, looooooooooooong story
But now i'm gettin my own decks....
Thanks for the advice, i'm gonna try it out when i hit my first gig.

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