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How do you all keep doing it!??!

OK, i gotta be totally honest. Latley I've been so fucking down about this whole dance music thing. I know that theres lots of you who have residencies playing what you love but, while I do hold some residencies, they're all playing almost all top 40 and hip hop with a smidge of not so well taken top 40 remixes.

That being said, I've had a few nice opprotunities to spin at some great parties playing house and what not. I've also opened for Ryan Elliot (Spectral Sound DJ) at a rad party in Detroit.

But damnit, I can't say I'm really going anywhere with any of this, so It's definitley been easy to ask, why do I persist on buying tracks and what have you?

Of course, I do still love the music, but im not looking for a "Do it for the music, do it for the love" type of answer. Fuck, I'm not even looking for success.

I just want those of you to know, especially you European folks, that you are damn lucky to have the chance to have even ONE club or even a shitty BAR in your area playing accepted dance music.

In my city? People literally throw alchohol if you play anything other than Satisfaction at ANY club here in Grand Rapids.

I'm a multi instrumentalist with a main focus in jazz, so it doesnt really bust my bubble in a whole musical sense, but when it comes to electronica,

How do those of you in these shitty non existent scenes keep some sort if inspiration and fire to do what you do!?!?




Sorry for being a bitch

you move to a place that does accept the music, or you keep it in the bedroom. fuck man, you've got bleu and DEMF at least.

I find trance or any electronic music is quite an acquired taste of music and even different types within other types is acquired! but once your hooked on this u will be willing to make the effort for this. so u shud start up your own night and create a following. even if just 10 ppl turn up, spin those decks, they will leave satisfied (hopefully) and tell at least 1 person each surely. next time u have 20...build a good following, get ur name out.
hope this relights your fire!

i feel you man

it sucks... it really does suck.... USA has no appreciation for the most part for EDM

u need to live somewhere like in LA, Miami, DC, or NYC to get any club at all that plays EDM..

Its a tough feeling, feeling rejected like that. I know how you feel from spinning Top40 so many times... and I got very little money and less respect for it.

Think of it this way...you could sell yourself out and play the Billboard list every night to a predictable wage, or you can keep some respect for yourself and play the music that you want to share with the people. Remember the difference between you and the mobile Top40 jock isn't just that he spent a bunch of money on business cards and a PA, but that you have an eclectic style of music that you are sharing with others. That mobile jock has a Promo Only subscription and eyes on the money (not saying this is necessarily bad, but the resulting "set" is doing what is necessary to get the guy paid, not what the guy wants to play). You may not have that pay check, but you do have your dignity.

Do you live near Detroit? Send some demos that way. Even if its not Detroit Techno, at least the people there are more receptive to at least some EDM.

Also try hosting your own event. Starting a promotion "crew" is as easy as setting up a logo with Photoshop and contacting some DJ buddies that want to play at your event (that's how my crew, Random Transitions has begun, and we already have some well-known locals helping us out!). Let people know that you are trying to start a scene and they will help you if they can. PS: The Basement Jaxx, among other groups, got noticed by throwing their own parties...

Is the club that you're working at treating you like crud? Are you not getting paid to do your work for the place? You may have to put your foot down and either make sure they pay you/treat you better or leave. I had to leave the residency I had at a local Top40 club because the owners didn't care about me. Instead of them trying to get the EDM people in the venue, or even letting them know that I was there, they told me to "not play your shit music".

I left for a new club, where the owners have been very receptive to the music, and are supportive of me. The people I am working with now have the mantra "If we bring you up, then you'll bring us up with you", which is true (they want you to bring a bunch of people in the door). Try to look for a place with that kind of attitude (or set up that place for yourself). Make sure that the club is promoting you, not saying "why aren't you bringing X people in the door?"

I guess you could say that my Top40 gigs have been me "paying my dues". Worse come to worst you have another place to add onto your resume, so that when you find the gig that you want, you can have an easier job of convincing the promoter to book you.

It sounds like from the third paragraph that you're getting burned out by all of this. Maybe take a week off. Stop shopping for records for a while and listen to the ones that you have now. Dig up those CDs from 5 years ago. Re-kindle your love for the music. Come back when you get the "urge" to share music with others again.

quote:

u need to live somewhere like in LA, Miami, DC, or NYC to get any club at all that plays EDM..

Not entirely true. There is a good scene here in NC. The trick is reaching those people. You have to promote your events like its the last one you'll ever do! Plus, the OP lives near Detroit...Birthplace of Techno? There's gotta be a decent scene there.

Well everyone who's posted thus far, I wanna say thank you for not being total douche bags and hearing what I have to say.

I also must admit its quite comforting to know there are people in the same boat as me.

I'm TOTALLY aware that im more fortunate than some. I mean I could live in the middle of Nebraska or something, with absolutley NOTHING going on. I'm super proud to have had the privelage to play in detroit, and as sketchy as the damn place is, I have tons of respect for the place and love it when I do go there. That being said, I dont want to come off too pigheaded about where I live or anything.

As far as my personal story goes, I'm an 18 year old jock with about 2 years experience, and have been lucky enough to had a connection that landed me right in the middle of the most successful group of DJ's in my city. The head guy so to speak is one of the 100 Billboard DJ's, so he keeps us looking ahead at playing the "hottest" shit whether it be in top 40 or most popular dance ie. electro house and what have you.

Basically, the group I'm in runs EVERY single popular night in the city, and I've been fortunate enough to have had 3 residencies. One ironically which I'm at right now haha

Speaking of getting your name out, I'm totally aware of what should be done. One thing that we were all instructed to do was make a website, do the myspace flyers and all that crap, and it works, but the bottom line is

WE ARE PLAYING THE SAME TOP 40 CRAP SONGS TO THE SAME DRUNK ASS PEOPLE EVERY NIGHT JUST IN DIFFERENT PLACES

Sure! There are tons of people that come out! And the places we work are really nice and respectful, but to be honest, a person can only take so much. I probably hear over 15 hours of top 40 music A WEEK. And its been that way for over a year now. I'm AMAZED that some jocks I work with have done this 10+ years.

Yes, theres gobs of money, and being a college kid going to a community college living with parents is bank, but I too believe it or not have values and this is just shit after a while

Theres ONE night which is run by some DIY kinda guys and yeah like 15 people come out, and I make sure to be friendly and have played that night a few times, but its still a sad sad thing to behold because its the EXACT same club that we pack when we play top 40.

There was ONE night that was supposed to be a 'dance' night at the biggest club in town, and after 4 months, it turned into a top 40 night and has now been shutdown.

It's just that kind of shit that is frusturating and really really gets to a person. I guess the thing to do is really focus on what scene I do have in Detroit and hammer the shit out of that. But its 2 hours away and is harder than it seems. Luckily I totally dig the detroit sound of things and play more of that than anything, but at the same time, thats probably THE most hated thing of all here in Grand Rapids, even by my fellow DJ buddies.

All im saying, is if theres even a SCRAP of a scene where you live and can dance to some good music with a decent crowd, go every fucking night and love it more than your dog, girlfriend or your mom.

Period

i guess it just depends on the situation really. i just so happen to be surrounded by a bunch of the greatest people with unmoveable love for EDM...essentially we've spent the past year or more trying to build up the scene in upstate new york from nothing with success. little by little we're throwing bigger and better parties and i have people approaching me all the time asking for the next trance party or asking specifically for edm at events. you just have to have the will and like someone already mentioned just start throwing your own events. the clubs around here are only interested in top 40 and crap music and personally its unacceptable for me to play garbage as i became a dj specifically for EDM. its cool if your into your own thing thats fine, but i think in your situation the best way would just be to start up your own thing and when you have a couple successful parties it will draw more attention to the music. that's the main thing, exposure because once people go to a sick night of house and trance and get a slice of that feeling you get a huge events like ultraspin/wmc/etc they will come back for more. I have converted so many people over the past 6 months into EDM-lovers and i feel like especially now in the US with such crap music EVERYWHERE people need an alternative...

just my 2cts.

Play at gay bars.... they like edm. most gay bars dont have a decent dj and you'll have no problem getting in. i've dj'd at many a gay bar ~ yeah its a little weird, but you get to play edm.

LMFAO!

quote:

Originally posted by discobiscuit Play at gay bars.... they like edm. most gay bars dont have a decent dj and you'll have no problem getting in. i've dj'd at many a gay bar ~ yeah its a little weird, but you get to play edm.

that is very very true!

quote:

Originally posted by discobiscuit Play at gay bars.... they like edm. most gay bars dont have a decent dj and you'll have no problem getting in. i've dj'd at many a gay bar ~ yeah its a little weird, but you get to play edm.

so true. They music played in gay/lesbian bars are horrible. EDM or not. Bleh

I totally agree with you mate, Ive been DJ'ing for 4 years and havent hit the club scean for this very reason plus i don't really have good contacts, but i much rather play at house parties beacuse i have some DJ buddies that produce their own tunes that are brilliant or the host of the party hands you some unsigned or underground album and people get off on that. I also orginize my own house parties where i can play some tunes i made, nothing big though, but think of it as building a reputation so that you draw your own crowd and not wast time trying to earn the respect of another's. It takes alot of hard work but it's well worth the effort, plus you get that satisfaction that you accomplished somthing.

quote:

Originally posted by discobiscuit Play at gay bars.... they like edm. most gay bars dont have a decent dj and you'll have no problem getting in. i've dj'd at many a gay bar ~ yeah its a little weird, but you get to play edm.

agree...a gig is a gig.

maybe you should move to Europe, perhaps Holland, or Ibiza. Then you could play out in trance clubs every day.

quote:

Originally posted by Raveaddict19 I'm TOTALLY aware that im more fortunate than some. I mean I could live in the middle of Nebraska or something, with absolutley NOTHING going on.

Hey now, Nebraska actually has a decent EDM scene. Well, in Lincoln and Omaha at least. We just had Lisa Lashes here in Lincoln a few months ago.

Haha my bad friend


I feel like an ass


I was just trying to throw out random middle of America thing...


Iowa perhaps?!?!? Northern Idaho!??!


Can't say I see Loco Dice touring there soon....

Well i live in Mississauga Ontario Buddy Canada and yes dance music here is popular i got a few clubs that i play at here but recently my buddy got me a gig with a polish DJ in chicago IL dj narkski and im gona have a few gigs at these clubs cant wait im leaving on Monday and hiting Bermuda for vacation and work offcorse ,first to play at

SPLASH NIGHTCLUB
10 Bermudiana Road
Hamilton, HM11 Bermuda

then in begining of May I will be in Chicago IL at



Energy Thursday Nite Dance Club

(3815 West Lake Street / Near Franklin & Melrose Park)
Ages: 17 to Mingle - 21 & Up to Drink
Open until 5AM!
(Chicago, IL)


Vibe Nite Club (Lombard, IL) - Ages: 17 +
(100-40 Rowling Rd. / 1 block east of 355 on North Ave.)
Saturdays at 11:30 - 12:30am.


If you think of it its like a little tour,,lol..i got realtives in Chicago so i got a place to stay. I will be taking lots and lots of pics and movies because im going on a vacation of a life time for me.

im only gona be playing PROGRESSIVE HOUSE and TRANCE ..

so what i think your answer is?>...if you wanna play in clubs you need to suffer a bit and then travel...im not saying countries..(well unless you have conections and your kick ass DJ) but going from clubs to clubs.....and music like that is moslty played at after hours clubs..

like from 1am-5am where people are smashed and just enjoing the music.

just what i think..i could be wrong.


Thanks
Dj Preztige
Mike S

It can be really tough.
The gay bar theory is actually quite sound, and contrary to popular belief can be a lot of fun although sometimes you will see things that are just plain weird, but you have to be able to laugh at it. You should also know that a lot of those guys are heavily connected and can get you a lot of gigs at parties and things.

The other thing that you have to accept these days is that you are not going to break into EDM in a big way unless you make it 100% your identity. By all means take the gigs you are getting at the moment as it's great experience, but you need to think about making productions as that is ulitimately what defines DJs today (with the very rare exception and those days are pretty much gone). If you want to take it further than just residencies that is.

Cheers
Nem

quote:

Originally posted by Nemesis44 It can be really tough. The gay bar theory is actually quite sound, and contrary to popular belief can be a lot of fun although sometimes you will see things that are just plain weird, but you have to be able to laugh at it. You should also know that a lot of those guys are heavily connected and can get you a lot of gigs at parties and things. The other thing that you have to accept these days is that you are not going to break into EDM in a big way unless you make it 100% your identity. By all means take the gigs you are getting at the moment as it's great experience, but you need to think about making productions as that is ulitimately what defines DJs today (with the very rare exception and those days are pretty much gone). If you want to take it further than just residencies that is. Cheers Nem

+1

A buddy of mine played clubs for 10 years, spinning all sorts of cheese he didn't like. Then he got residency at a gay club and he was blown away with the support from the crowd, he even started to like the sh.. he hated before just 'cause the crowd response was that much more accepting, energetic. Also he always keeps telling me how happy he is playin' there because the crowd is so much more open to many other genres you could never spin at an "ordinary" club.

Djs are disposable these days and can't really afford to be particular about many things (like the styles they play) unless they're big time. If you're not going to do it someone else will, and they will do it for less.

Don't forget the sole purpose of a dj that's not a turntablist is to play what the people like. It's not really your call to not play it if you don't like it.

Frankly, I'm well aware as to what a DJ is and is supposed to do. Its not in a DJ's place to play whatever the hell he likes without any sort of regard to the people on the floor. Both obviously need eachother yes? DJ's are kind of dumb without people dancing\or atleast enjoying the music being played if it be elsewhere.

I've played weddings and various parties loooooong before the club circuit, so im very well aware as to what exactley my job is.

My bitching is about the fact that while there are obviously some of you in places with enjoyable scenes, how do those here who have no such scene keep spending gobs of money on vinly\mp3's and still have a love and a drive to keep playing.

If your all about to say, for the love, well thats nice and all. I love the music of course! But I must say, that its indeed very degrading on ones self when theres NO reception of it at all. I dont really know how to put it really.

And of course, Nem as always is spot on. From talking with guys like DJ Dan, Dave Aude and Mixin Marc (who SOMEHOW came through to a club here??? Very empty though...) its blatantly obvious that even if someone can DJ circles around you, if your the one producing AND have the right friends, theyre miles ahead of you.

That being said, and after reading all this, I suffice to say the best and only enjoyable option is to throw your own parties (that is if your not going to take the producing, selling of your name trying to get attention bit)

All I've ever wanted was a good time, with some good music, and an ok number of folks feeling the same thing.

Weddings, top 40, and fucking middle school dances all have their place in this world of course, and when it comes time to make money, I'll play them, but its a real damn shame that one of my favorite interests is the one that gets shit on in my town.

Re: How do you all keep doing it!??!

quote:

Originally posted by Raveaddict19 OK, i gotta be totally honest. Latley I've been so fucking down about this whole dance music thing. I know that theres lots of you who have residencies playing what you love but, while I do hold some residencies, they're all playing almost all top 40 and hip hop with a smidge of not so well taken top 40 remixes. That being said, I've had a few nice opprotunities to spin at some great parties playing house and what not. I've also opened for Ryan Elliot (Spectral Sound DJ) at a rad party in Detroit. But damnit, I can't say I'm really going anywhere with any of this, so It's definitley been easy to ask, why do I persist on buying tracks and what have you? Of course, I do still love the music, but im not looking for a "Do it for the music, do it for the love" type of answer. Fuck, I'm not even looking for success. I just want those of you to know, especially you European folks, that you are damn lucky to have the chance to have even ONE club or even a shitty BAR in your area playing accepted dance music. In my city? People literally throw alchohol if you play anything other than Satisfaction at ANY club here in Grand Rapids. I'm a multi instrumentalist with a main focus in jazz, so it doesnt really bust my bubble in a whole musical sense, but when it comes to electronica, How do those of you in these shitty non existent scenes keep some sort if inspiration and fire to do what you do!?!? Sorry for being a bitch

There are no places near me either...even though you didn't want it i'ma go with "Do it for the love of the music"

Well, the reason I continue to do anything (I bowl, play softball, i do research at school and I dj) is because I purely enjoy doing it. I put on a weekly online show and one week I had 2 listeners. I dind't care, I mainly do the show so that I have a 2 hour live set to listen to suring the week. It does get frustrating when no one cares what you are so intense about, but forget them squares, do it for you....and get a good paying job to supply it :P



and I sympathise with you. I went to Ferris State for 4 years, now that was feckin club isolation. There are 2 bars there..maybe 3 depending on your standards. But it was bad, I just kept going on frequent trips back to detroit for shows and such.


so id say get your inspiration from your journeys to places with a scene (chicago isn't that far either, just a train ride away). that should keep you going. Then hone your craft and produce music. Also when you play at your top 40s places, split up the night into 45 minute or 30 minute sets. We used to do this in detroit. play about 30 - 45 mins of house, then hip hop, then something else...so on so forth. So its not enough edm to get bitched about, but enough to catch the interest of a few people each time.




and now I am tryign to remember what I typed up there, but it took too long to type and now ive forgotten it. enjoy.

quote:

Don't forget the sole purpose of a dj that's not a turntablist is to play what the people like. It's not really your call to not play it if you don't like it.

Sorry but that's one of the saddest things I've ever read here. You are describing either a jukebox or a whore, but definitely not a DJ. I think you ought to learn a little more about the history of DJing before you make a disgraceful comment like that.

It's people with your opinion who have MADE the DJ into a disposable commodity - I hope you realize that.

I have made it my explicit mission to only play what I like every time I play and I have been nothing short of successful in that regard. (and this is mostly due to fantastic and passionate friends and partners I have, among them SPAWNmaster who replied earlier in this thread) No, I don't have a residency in my shitty college town, but why would I want one if it would make me write things like this thread to people like you.
I spend 100% of my time in love with my music and developing MY sound, and not regurgitating the sound of money spilling out of the pockets of top40 record labels...

DJing is about responding to the crowd. But don't be so dense to think that means playing music that is already popular. MUSIC IS A LANGUAGE WHICH TRANSCENDS POPULAR CULTURE. Good music is good music, a good beat is a good beat. Believe it or not you can make people dance to music they've never heard before. THAT is DJing. Anything else is just being a tool with overpriced cd players.

And if the people are adverse to the music simply because they have some prejudice against dance music (which does happen), then you're playing for the wrong crowd, and if you need money, then you should do something else and keep DJing as a passion and a hobby or develop your own parties outside of your other job.


@Threadstarter:
Man, I'm sorry but you have three paying jobs DJing - nothing to complain about!

Just take the money as it comes, save up, develop playing music you like on your own.

When you can't take it enough quit your jobs or just one, and then devote yourself towards promoting your own parties.

I don't eat for days some times because I spent all my money on DJ equipment, music, and my own parties. I'm weeks late on my rent. You are extremely lucky to have three residencies.

Where I am located, in Ithaca, NY, where I go to university, there is a cabal of sellout djs who are very good at providing an acceptable mainstream dj service to the gen pop. These guys get all the residencies, and though I've been able to get into these places for occasional parties, it's only because I have done all the planning and promotion myself.

Essentially what I did was start this group "The Electronic Music Collective", about three years ago. It began organized as an independent student organization through Cornell University, with the hopes of getting funding. We don't get shit from the university however, but since we started, we have been able to promote our organization through the school - eg I have been booked to play at museum/gallery openings, and we have a large fairly worldly and international student base. I also take classes in music and electronic music production and we have ties to the music department that way, which gets us some equipment, and lets us do promotional things like DJ demonstrations on a more public scale. The group also functions as a social network for the 140+ people who are part of it, and we regularly promote parties (one or two every weekend). The group has also served as a sort of school of DJing in that several of our members have been inspired to buy their own equipment, and we all help eachother out and play gigs together.


I am extremely dissatisfied with the shit that mainstream America will settle for and I do everything I can to fight for quality dance music in house parties and clubs. I tend to play more house parties because I like the underground feeling much more, and I can get a lot more creative with my sets. Particularly my favorite time to play a house party is the first hour when it's just beginning, and I can get really experimental with my track selections...

I think you probably just need more independence promoting your own stuff. It's hard work and you'll have a lot of flops as I have, but so what if it's just 15 people in the beginning...don't let your ego prevent you from doing what really makes you happy

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