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Trying to compete with an established night on a weeknight

I'm looking for some pointers from the other DJs here who play out regularly.

Right now I am playing a weekly event on Wednesdays at Tutto Mondo in Charlotte. We have one or more guests play each week, plus myself, Gexxx, and Bz as residents.

We have some stiff competition. There is another Wednesday night that is being run at Dharma Lounge about a mile away that is called Le Bang. I don't know what their lineup is like, but I do know that they have a larger crowd than we get at Tuttos. They pull in about 50-80 people for Le Bang, while a good night for us is ~20 people (the club's max capacity is ~50, so we're talking a half-full venue.)

Both nights have Facebook event pages. Both nights have decent word-of-mouth promotion. Both nights are no cover w/ good drink specials. Both places have DJs that play Electronic music of some kind (our guests mostly do the wobblewobblewobble, and the residents do House & Dubstep)

Here's the clincher: Le Bang gives away a FREE KEG OF BEER for the first hour that Dharma is open on Wednesdays! Free beer?!? How do we compete against that?!?

We have no funding, and we are not getting paid to play (we do get some free drinks ) so obviously we can't afford anything like a large batch of paper flyers or ads in print media. We're relying on what we can do for free online to raise interest.

I think there are two things that are really hurting our turnout vs this other night:

1. The other night is being held at a relatively new club, whereas Tuttos has been around for over a decade.

2. They're giving away free beer!!!

So, experienced residents of the DJ Booth, what advice do you have to help us attract more people to Tuttos on Wednesdays? Thanks in advance

whoever has the most support from friends usually wins.

quote:

Originally posted by Schadenfreude whoever has the most support from friends usually wins.

in small clubs this.

While i was reading the post i was thinking that if you want to compete with another club play the most commercial crap you know, so theorically everyone would be comfortable there.

But, if both are playing EDM and one is giving free beer, if you play crap nobody would attend because they listen to commercial crap inthe other club + have free beer.

So, i'd stick to one genre that you feel people could like and that makes a difference to the other club, for example you can play a great set of progressive house, if people like your progressive house sets they'll attend, maybe they'll go at first for the free beer, but soon will head to the club where they're favourite music it's being played. If the club is small you can let the progressive house heads (in this case) have a night for them and they'll surely assist, happened to me with trance since i was one of the few trance djs (i only know another dj that plays trance here)

But pfff i've been in a lot of small clubs and usually what makes a dj successful or not at the owners view specially is (DJ A brought 20 friends, DJ B brought 10 friends. DJ A is a better Dj than B)

Competing against beer... that's a hard task. Good luck.

Try not to compete directly. If they play commercial go underground, if they play trance go house. The only way you can set yourself apart is by offering something unique. Best way to do that is through the music. Just make sure the cover is as low as you can possibly make it, throw a unique sound and promote the crap out of it. You've got an uphill battle though so be ready to put in the time to let it build gradually.

Btw try to use their crowd to your advantage - they're your target audience and they will get tired of going to the same spot at some point. Try flyering cars in the area or friending people from their Facebook event. Be aggressive and try to build curiosity so that people want to check it out.

Yeah, the beer thing is a bit of a clincher. That said, it would only attract a certain type of person and not your average EDM fan is my guess.

As was said earlier, mid week affairs in small venues tend to be related to your circle of friends and not your music style or playing ability.
The fact that you are getting a half full venue is a good thing.

Have you thought about providing visuals and trying to create a unique atmosphere, i.e. some lighting or a projector, and perhaps running a theme? Is there anything in the d�cor of the club that you play at that you could modify? Ambitious perhaps, but when a friend and I did a mid week night we had a few backdrops and sheets for the ceiling, we also had a few female friends dress up in middle eastern attire (No not burkas) and called it �Dom�s Harem�. Renamed a few cocktails with the help of the owner and drew a crowd that was good and even had to turn people away due to being full to capacity. It got old after a while, so we changed the theme and d�cor accordingly.

If you can actually be a little creative about the whole thing, you can actually make a free keg of beer seem cheap and nasty. Coming up with an idea that works well that people will recognise you for can also make a name for you locally.

As a general rule, people tend to follow, so your own friends are important when doing a things like this, make sure you pack the place out as much as possible with mates. Make it look happening, even if it is people you know. It will ensure a good vibe.

Flyer it!

Create a vibe and something memorable. You may even find that your night will get moved to a busier night of the week if the owner sees it working midweek. It can also work against you though, as they may keep you there as it is hard to make midweek nights work. Double edged sword, but you pull in people and you have a completely different power to negotiate with. Sometimes even venues can head hunt you for a bigger better deal.

Give people a reason to get off their arse midweek, think about whom your target audience is and flyer the hell out of them. Talk to GIRLS. Girls go, males will follow.

Just a thought.

Cheers
Nem

Oil your body all over and muchly before every fine performance.

Which you must do with your body as the beacon, beckon all the others kindly.

For this is your moment. Scintillating, titillating, cascading all around them from your turntable proficiency lashing all about them. Provide, be the guide, prophetic stance and molestic hands turning knobs and changing minds.

Bring flutes.

Lay out (date rape d)rugs.

I believe in this cause and will come lend my hands and my body and my every little bit.

Of me.

"ladies night" great specials for women and no cover (if there was one in the 1st place). Advertising a ladies night is good for business. Women go for the special treatment and men go for the women. It's win-win. I feel ya tho man it's very tough to get a crowd to move. Where I'm from the crowd moves once every 1-3 years! It's a smaller city (not a town). 500-750 people show up at the hot spot each night thurs-sun. Every night has a diff hot spot. I guess you just gotta be in the right place at the right time. Thank god theres not many etalented top 40 djs in the area..

quote:

Originally posted by Ted Promo Oil your body all over and muchly before every fine performance. Which you must do with your body as the beacon, beckon all the others kindly. For this is your moment. Scintillating, titillating, cascading all around them from your turntable proficiency lashing all about them. Provide, be the guide, prophetic stance and molestic hands turning knobs and changing minds. Bring flutes. Lay out (date rape d)rugs. I believe in this cause and will come lend my hands and my body and my every little bit. Of me.

Can you write our next flyer?

Nem: I noticed a lot of "hipsters" at the other place, cradling their $2 PBRs and draft beers. They seem to be into what is being played, but I think they're more into meeting their friends than going to the venue specifically for the music. I think that happens in general, and that the people who are at a venue for the tunes are going to be in the minority. Everyone who said that friends matters is right. The trick is getting those groups of friends in the door...

Here's what our venue looks like:



Obviously we aren't playing weddings, but that is the decor that is in the place. I really like the forest-y look, especially with the lights dimmed and some Deep House playing, but I think you are right that we should try and mix up the environment and see what happens. The venue does have a projector, so we could play movies or naughty things on it (I might have to check Charlotte laws first...)

I really like your idea for doing a theme. I'm going to come up with some ideas and see what kind of fun we can come up with. We know enough local DJs that we could easily run a all-House or all-Dubstep night too. Thanks for all of the advice!

woah, that's far from being an EDM club... you have to see what's the target that goes out on wednesday, young-old people, if there are a lot of young people faded lights,lasers and visuals in the projector can attract some people but you are right, in small clubs specially and in all clubs in general people go there to meet or to have a drink.

You've to consider if people go there to dance or to talk, when i want to go to chat i usually skip the clubs with loud music, it's obvious. Your club seems to be the chitchat club kind, so deep house on a low volume can be handy.

In this case the options are:

-Make the place comfortable to talk and have a drink
-A drastical change.

I have to admit, that looking at the picture you have your work cut out for you. It doesn't give that EDM vibe as stated. You would have to do something quite drastic.

If I'm honest, I would actually recommend that you seek out a different venue. That said, I have no point of reference as to the other place.

Cheers
Nem

that venue just screams deep house lounge martini bar, do a ladies night, cosmos on special, cater to people with money, money = good business

you can't make much on dipshits drinking $2 drinks

Dude, I'd fucking hide a fucking goat there to some Terry Lee Brown motherfuck.

Ted Promo: You can bring the goat as long as you don't pull a "kinky Kelly and the sexy stud." No one wants to see that in public

This place definitely seems more lounge-y than the usual club. I would love to get an all Deep House night going, but this place actually is a favorite among DnB fans (they have Proper Sundays twice a month,) and all of the weekly nights that they hold have DJs who play all sorts of EDM. It would be sweet to book Danny Krivit or Chuck Love to play at this place!

Dharma Lounge, by comparison: http://www.dharmacharlotte.com/events_photos.html

Nem: As much as I would like to immediately be booked at the big venues like Scorpios or (formerly) The Forum, I'm still a small fish in a big pond. I tried to get stuff going in Hickory for the longest time, and I'm glad that I'm at least playing in a much larger city now, with at least some people who know that there are more than two genres of music (Country AND Western!)

To be honest I'm not sure how to get into those bigger venues from here. Getting a slot in this venue was kind of a spur-of-the-moment friend-of-a-friend deal.

I think the consensus is clear to try Ladies Night and play up the environment that is there. I will have a chat with the manager that runs the Wednesday nights and see if we can get some drink specials and promotion set up.

I prefer an original place than just a cliche place like the Dharma Lounge(the name and the look of that place? bleh)

The venue is not the end all be all.
The Tutto Mundo place looks clean and nice which is what makes people happy if they're "sophisticated" (I use the world lightly).


You MUST flyer. I realize not getting money for the night is a drag, but you need to find ways to get the word out other than just online. I am still a firm believer of actual tangible media, because we all get over crowded online with event invites that half of what we are sent we basically ignore.
The flyer could be a monthly one, with dates for each event. You can have the cost for one month for less than 100 bucks easy.
Take a look at places here
http://www.jakprints.com/flyer-printing/
If there is are event sections in the local papers, USE THEM! If there's a free paper for events, concerts etc get the night listed. A lot of these things are free/cheap.

It's important to build brand recognition associated with the night, so in that extent I guess you have a logo, crew name etc?
Can we see a facebook event invite?
It helps for you to have recognition so that when following pick-ups, the people are following your crew and not just the location; so you can easilly move your night elsewhere.
If you can track your following by having email lists, events with a real following you can easilly market your events to bigger venues because of your track record.
These things take time to pick up. Don't think you're missing out because you aren't in the big places yet, see that as a long term goal and find ways to get there.


If Tuddos has drinks specials it's good to indicate that, if they don't have any specials try to get something worked on with them.

There's no one solution fits all out there; it depends on the market, your intent and most importantly dedication and motivation going into this.

quote:

Originally posted by jdat You MUST flyer. I realize not getting money for the night is a drag, but you need to find ways to get the word out other than just online. I am still a firm believer of actual tangible media, because we all get over crowded online with event invites that half of what we are sent we basically ignore. The flyer could be a monthly one, with dates for each event. You can have the cost for one month for less than 100 bucks easy. Take a look at places here http://www.jakprints.com/flyer-printing/ If there is are event sections in the local papers, USE THEM! If there's a free paper for events, concerts etc get the night listed. A lot of these things are free/cheap. It's important to build brand recognition associated with the night, so in that extent I guess you have a logo, crew name etc? Can we see a facebook event invite? It helps for you to have recognition so that when following pick-ups, the people are following your crew and not just the location; so you can easilly move your night elsewhere. If you can track your following by having email lists, events with a real following you can easilly market your events to bigger venues because of your track record. These things take time to pick up. Don't think you're missing out because you aren't in the big places yet, see that as a long term goal and find ways to get there.

yes, it's important to build a brand and use any form of tangible media to get the word out, it works wonders

i used the free event listing in the paper plus the monthly flyer method with weekly date info, went out flyering almost every night, had one of the most bumping spots in the city

pro tip: use the smallest flyer you can, you want to be able to have them easily hang onto these things, big bulky flyers are cumbersome to carry with you, if you can, try fit your stuff on a business card or as close to it, easy to toss in a pocket and forget about until they get home when they empty their pockets

Hey guys,

Sorry its been a while since I posted on here. Its been a busy couple of weeks! I have been working on promotion for a new event in Hickory that kind of just happened, and the response so far has been great!

Here is the event page for the next WeLoveWednesdays night (this week is canceled due to remodeling at Tuttos. I have NO clue what the place will look like next week!)

WeLoveWednesdays

We're getting better turnout now, partly because word-of-mouth seems to be working, partly because my friend Oscar seems to know everybody, and partly because last week was the bartender's birthday. We brought in a pinata with lots of candy inside, and some random party props that definitely added some excitement for the night.

Of course we can't have birthday parties every week, so I did get WeLoveWednesdays listed on Creative Loafing (Charlotte's free paper.) The promo blurb for next week's event should be printed in this week's issue.

Another thing that has effected our hype is the fact that we went ahead and posted the event pages for our new nights a lot earlier than before. This has given people more time to RSVP, be reminded about the event, etc. It is a simple change, but I think that is has helped a lot!

Here's the event page for the new Hickory night: Re:Birth

The response to this one has been really good. The capacity for this place is something tiny like 30 people, so having ~20 in the door will pack this place! Its awesome that people who we have been seeing every week in Charlotte for We Love Wednesdays are supporting us in Hickory, and that's definitely something that jdat was talking about with people following the crew and not just the night.

I'm also happy that this venue is printing flyers for us to use for this event. I will be handing the flyers out at Hickory's weekly free concert series called Hickory Alive! this Friday. I don't have any say in the size of these flyers, but the flyer size tip that you gave, Tony, makes a lot of sense. It's also convenient that smaller flyers are much cheaper to get printed

This event is also being listed in Focus, Hickory's free paper.

Thanks again for all of the tips. To sum this all up:

1. Add the event listing/page early...at least two weeks before the event date

2. Get the event listed in Creative Loafing/the free paper for your town

3. Hook up with friends or friends, get them on your friends list

4. Don't give up! The events I have been playing at have steadily gotten better turnout with time, but it did start slow.

Can I give out free e-meter readings and seminars at your show?

quote:

Originally posted by Ted Promo semin

sorry nelly....drunk posts happen here too

quote:

Originally posted by Schadenfreude sorry nelly....drunk posts happen here too

Are you kidding me, I'm not some Forum Nazi.. At least i hope that's not the persona i give off. Just sometimes when things get a little rowdy i'll throw in a post or two telling everyone to put their hand bags down..

We can still mock each other and have fun in here. But you know this.

quote:

Originally posted by Ted Promo Can I give out free e-meter readings and seminars at your show?

Only if you bring XENU with you

quote:

Originally posted by n3lly Are you kidding me, I'm not some Forum Nazi.. At least i hope that's not the persona i give off. Just sometimes when things get a little rowdy i'll throw in a post or two telling everyone to put their hand bags down.. We can still mock each other and have fun in here. But you know this.

i'm just fucking around, you are probably the only mod left that hasn't banned me.

quote:

Originally posted by Schadenfreude i'm just fucking around, you are probably the only mod left that hasn't banned me.

Let's keep it that way so..

Your wit for the time being is more than welcome here.

easiest way to kill a club night or club for that matter is to fire a gun in the establishment. Of course I don't know how bad you want to compete but this will work. More effective if you shoot someone but then you have the whole murder thing to deal with.

quote:

Originally posted by Mad for Brad easiest way to kill a club night or club for that matter is to fire a gun in the establishment. Of course I don't know how bad you want to compete but this will work. More effective if you shoot someone but then you have the whole murder thing to deal with.

Mace is safer. Happened three times in a club I was working in. Very lowbrow douche-bag.

not doing so well with the ladies huh.

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