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-- a bedroom dj's first possible residency.

a bedroom dj's first possible residency.

ok guys.. ive been doin the bedroom dj thing for about 6 months. i taught myself everything i know, so theres prob some things i dont know. i have a hookup who interviewed me for a 1 night a week (thursday) residency doin house and some breaks. ive got the main skills down, not perfected. this is my oppurtunity so i cannot let this go because i dont think im ready yet. ima go for it and the worst thing he can do is say no. the club has cd decks and i learned on tables so im wondering is it and different, besides the obvious, and should u be able to just jump from records to cd easily? also is there anything i should know? because it is cd-decks i have to build a cd collection for demo and gig. anything i should know about selection or and staples of really good stuff the ppl die for? i prefer stuff like infected mushroom, gabriel and dresden, alotta breakbeats.. i know i cant play all of this, so im tryin to get a bigger house selection. all the house i hear labeled as house i do not care for, the house music i do like is stuff like bennassi.. is there another house genre i may prefer? please and thanks for all the help it means alot.

electro is give or take what ur lookin for thick basslines but groovin housy rythm

I don't know how dance is going over there but electronica, electro, and tech house are getting a lot of play over here.

listen to some recent live sets and get an idea of some songs you like. Then buy em. And keep searching online sites like beatport, audiojelly and djdownload, they have craploads of songs you can get.



and I didn't find it too difficult to switch from vinyl decks to cd decks. There is a learning curve, but it doens't take very long.

thanks for input so far.. i have been searchin on beatport puttin together music like a mad man.. i really like the electro house sound. def what i was lookin for. any more input?

I'd say that maybe six months to you seems like quite a bit. But for me as a DJ who has been in the bedroom for 4 years and on the club circuit for 3 years I do know that I forced it when I tried to break into the club scene before I was ready.

I should have taken a litte more time to refine my craft before I played in public. I made a complete mess of my first gig which caused a few setbacks in my career. Thankfully, my peers were sympathetic.

This forced me back into the bedroom for endless hours to make sure I'd never be unprepared again. During this time period I practiced almost 8-12 hours a day. I was hell bent upon proving everyone completely wrong.

I'm not trying to down on you or anything like that as I was also self taught. I think that is the only real way to learn how to DJ. I'm just trying to inspire you to dig deeper into your craft and to learn thing that maybe you haven't heard of yet.

Certainly take the gig but also realize that first impressions are very important. Try your hardest and really concentrate. Don't get extremely intoxicated. I've also made that mistake.

Above all remember that in a live setting as opposed to the bedroom anything that can go wrong WILL go wrong. Bring extra cartridges, cables, headphones, ect...

Best of luck

PS remember to have fun and to bring a small flashlight. I would give you advice on music, but I play prog house, prog breaks, tech house, and minimal techno.

quote:

Originally posted by Zild Above all remember that in a live setting as opposed to the bedroom anything that can go wrong WILL go wrong.

How's that for a vote of confidence?

I'm just trying to help him learn from my mistakes. It's the plain truth. This business isn't for people who can't take negative criticism because you will have it poured upon you by venue owners, bar managers, and even the waitstaff or bouncers. You have to become an animal. But remember to smile and shake everyone's hand like you're their best friend.

you're not ready for a residency, period

if you take this, your chances aren't that good

you're barely ready to be taking the odd guest slot, let alone a residency

i played my first slot 6 months after starting, my first residency didn't come until i knew what i was doing

if you doubt yourself one little bit, you will fail

quote:

Originally posted by Zild I'm just trying to help him learn from my mistakes. It's the plain truth. This business isn't for people who can't take negative criticism because you will have it poured upon you by venue owners, bar managers, and even the waitstaff or bouncers. You have to become an animal. But remember to smile and shake everyone's hand like you're their best friend.

No I know - I was just messing with ya.

quote:

Originally posted by agentdansmith No I know - I was just messing with ya.

LOL

quote:

Originally posted by Tony Morello you're not ready for a residency, period if you take this, your chances aren't that good you're barely ready to be taking the odd guest slot, let alone a residency i played my first slot 6 months after starting, my first residency didn't come until i knew what i was doing if you doubt yourself one little bit, you will fail

Yeah, from what I've read, you don't sound ready at all.

I don't know how good you really are, but 6 months on vinyls only and switching to cdjs that you barely used before on a gig is going to do you no good.

Take the time. Don't rush into getting gigs. Fuck up the first one bad and if that word gets around, some promoters in your area might not be so kind to give you an another shot.

I had my first gig at a club after yr and half since I start spinning and although I did ok, I still don't think myself good enough to play out and still learning.

DJing is an ongoing learning process... the way technology is moving there is always a shit load of things u will learn on the journey. i've never really had the dedication to spend countless hours on my decks a day/week/wotever so i cant say from experience. the transition from vinyl to cd is not all that difficult. just getting used to pitch bending and extra features the decks have; knowing wot to press and wot not to press, and when pressing would be approriate! - that was a mind boggler to type.

the bottom line: 6 months sounds like a little too short a time to be playing out to a large crowd. but who is to say wot is too short and wot isnt. most importantly will be ur orginization; make sure, as said further up, u have spares for ur gear.

good luck in wotever u decide to do. i'm sure ur day will come, whether today or not

quote:

Originally posted by EvilTree Take the time. Don't rush into getting gigs. Fuck up the first one bad and if that word gets around, some promoters in your area might not be so kind to give you an another shot.

it's a common mistake

green djs wanting to see their name on a flyer and playing before they're ready

if you screw it up your first go, there's a good possibility it'll be your only chance

you can dj, but you're not quite a dj just yet though

you don't really get good until at least a year or 2 in

thx

thx for advice... so what u guys think i should turn down the gig or go for it?... i have to put a demo together for him and he will say yay or nay.. i wish i had more experiance before something like this popped up but i dont see it happenin again. the guys is a coworker of a family member and he may coach me alittle, he knows its my first gig. i feel like i could do it but i am still green as you guys say. its gunna be a little while before the club opens and he said i could come by and learn the cdj's on the weekend.. should i just let this slipp by me cause im too green?

depends on how confident u are i guess... i mean, if u think u might fuck it up - DONT DO IT... if u are confident u can/will pull it off then go for it. just remember to be organised!

I did my first gig after 3 months and got a lot of positive feedback actually.

ok basically i am a nobody... so disreguard who i am lol

you have been given this opportunity, and like you just said, you were offered to learn on the weekend to use the CDJs... you sound confident but look at it this way... some times chances come and go, you gotta jump on it while its hot... but some times chances come and are rushed too soon...

maybe some head down and bumb up in the practice area time! possibly even try meet some DJs that do have a residency somewhere who plays similar tunes or style to you and then get to know em if you dont already and just ask to watch them, learn from them or even if they could meet up with you at your joint and if he/she can give you some pointers, kinda like a tutoring session

thats something that ive got in mind, a dj lives next door to a good m8 of mine and i would really like to just watch and listen to someone practice.... because i dont know what im doing yet i just would really like someone to show me and communicate with me. not just look at me like im an insect and i am insignificant

if youve got the love, nothing will stop you IMO

all the best (remember everything happends for a reason... good or bad)

quote:

Originally posted by DJ Marak ok basically i am a nobody... so disreguard who i am lol you have been given this opportunity, and like you just said, you were offered to learn on the weekend to use the CDJs... you sound confident but look at it this way... some times chances come and go, you gotta jump on it while its hot... but some times chances come and are rushed too soon... maybe some head down and bumb up in the practice area time! possibly even try meet some DJs that do have a residency somewhere who plays similar tunes or style to you and then get to know em if you dont already and just ask to watch them, learn from them or even if they could meet up with you at your joint and if he/she can give you some pointers, kinda like a tutoring session thats something that ive got in mind, a dj lives next door to a good m8 of mine and i would really like to just watch and listen to someone practice.... because i dont know what im doing yet i just would really like someone to show me and communicate with me. not just look at me like im an insect and i am insignificant if youve got the love, nothing will stop you IMO all the best (remember everything happends for a reason... good or bad)

everyone needs a mentor

someone they can hang out with and watch play while they teach you stuff

if they play a similar style, just hang out and tag, you'll pick things up quicker

i've gotten a few djs started already

quote:

Originally posted by Tony Morello everyone needs a mentor someone they can hang out with and watch play while they teach you stuff if they play a similar style, just hang out and tag, you'll pick things up quicker i've gotten a few djs started already

+1

If it wasn't for a buddy of mine who taught me the basics, I would have had so much harder time learning.

Also helps to know a few other buddies with residencies and hang out at the DJ booth watching them play and pick up a few things. (esp. since they are so good technically)

It doesn't matter if a DJ is playing is playing a similar style as you. As long as you're observing, you'll learn a few things, even if it's not something that suits you, but you get other ideas too.

Gigs don't always come around every day. You gotta start some time so might as well take a chance.

quote:

Originally posted by Tony Morello you're not ready for a residency, period if you take this, your chances aren't that good you're barely ready to be taking the odd guest slot, let alone a residency if you doubt yourself one little bit, you will fail

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