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-- what exactly defines a "local dj" vs "headliner dj"

what exactly defines a "local dj" vs "headliner dj"

A couple of current threads one about locals, one posted by woody
http://www.tranceaddict.com/forums/...698&forumid=60&

and an event posted by mhubert

http://www.tranceaddict.com/forums/...808&forumid=60&


woody asks about local djs we'd like to see at a local(LA/OC) Event. since guys such as kaskade, steve angello, and(possibly erick morillo) currently reside in the area, technically arent they "local dj's"?

in matt's event thread about pleasurekraft and jphlip at vessel it's labeled as a "double headliner" night, but jphlip has made SF home via dirtybird, so technically isnt she a "local dj". and the term headliner is merely used as a marketing tool?
if you move into a city i dont think that make you a "local"?

the term headliner and local act/artist/dj can mean anything. Hollywood Carter is a headliner Club Billy. I guess it's really how the promoter is presenting it.

When I say local, I usually mean DJ's who live in the area but are not big enough to sell out the event, they are usually the openers and make very little if any difference to the event. Unless off course, they're the promoters too. Local DJ's are not famous enough to be in demand across the world. I'm a local DJ and I won't sell you out a club. I don't have that big of a pull. A headliner usually has most of the focus devoted to him and are in demand.

Some local LA DJ's are... Kazell, Rachel Starr, Kristina Sky, Fei Fei, Bud Brothers, I would include Darin Epsilon since he lives here in SoCal, Bas, Clovis, and off course me.

A headliner will bring in tons of people to your club. They are in demand internationally, and are producers as well. These include your Tiesto's, Armin's, Morillo, Angello, etc.

However, there's instances when your local DJ might travel outside his/her city. In that case, they might become the headliner DJ for that particular night. All of us local DJ's I mentioned above have traveled outside our city at one time or another and we headlined that particular event.

Rachael Starr is not known here in LA, but yet, she's always traveling around the world headlining at clubs all over, except in her hometown. Sad but true. Darin, Fei Fei and Kristina do a little bit of traveling all the time. I already did my share of traveling back in the days and haven't traveled recently, but I've been there too. I cut back on bookings in the last three years and I think that has brought my demand down quite a bit. I went from being a local DJ that was booked 4-5 nights a week, to now just being booked 1-2 times and I now became just another DJ. But I did it on purpose. I could've kept going if I wanted to, but that's a whole different story.

Hope that makes sense.

quote:

Originally posted by 72hrpartyanimal the term headliner and local act/artist/dj can mean anything. Hollywood Carter is a headliner Club Billy. I guess it's really how the promoter is presenting it.

Exactly! It's all how the promoter is presenting it. I remember back in the 90's a well known DJ told me... WHEN YOU THROW YOUR OWN PARTIES, MAKE YOUR SELF THE HEADLINER! MAKE YOUR SELF STAND OUT. PEOPLE WILL REMEMBER YOU.

Re: what exactly defines a "local dj" vs "headliner dj"

quote:

Originally posted by bigperf in matt's event thread about pleasurekraft and jphlip at vessel it's labeled as a "double headliner" night, but jphlip has made SF home via dirtybird, so technically isnt she a "local dj". and the term headliner is merely used as a marketing tool? if you move into a city i dont think that make you a "local"?

jphilip lives in Berlin since last year

Common sense defines the differences for me.

quote:

Originally posted by DaveT Common sense defines the differences for me.

mos def

woody, why did you decide to not be booked 4-5x a week and to travel? curious to hear your story

quote:

Originally posted by DaveT Common sense defines the differences for me.

if you never travel out of your comfort zone,and just party in your city then pretty easy to figure out who is "local" vs "headliner" but since i am one of a handful of west coast ta's who will head to SF,LA,SD,LV,OC etc without residing in any of those areas its a tad different.


not sure why anyone would want to keep their status as a local if they could venture out and make some money.

produce, get big name artists playing your tracks to increase your name recognition and then go tour.

i wouldnt consider this kid a "headliner" but



as you can see he recently busted out a 9 gig 10 day tour thru 2 countries.

quote:

Originally posted by DjWoody When I say local, I usually mean DJ's who live in the area but are not big enough to sell out the event, they are usually the openers and make very little if any difference to the event. Unless off course, they're the promoters too. Local DJ's are not famous enough to be in demand across the world. I'm a local DJ and I won't sell you out a club. I don't have that big of a pull. A headliner usually has most of the focus devoted to him and are in demand. Some local LA DJ's are... Kazell, Rachel Starr, Kristina Sky, Fei Fei, Bud Brothers, I would include Darin Epsilon since he lives here in SoCal, Bas, Clovis, and off course me. A headliner will bring in tons of people to your club. They are in demand internationally, and are producers as well. These include your Tiesto's, Armin's, Morillo, Angello, etc. However, there's instances when your local DJ might travel outside his/her city. In that case, they might become the headliner DJ for that particular night. All of us local DJ's I mentioned above have traveled outside our city at one time or another and we headlined that particular event. Rachael Starr is not known here in LA, but yet, she's always traveling around the world headlining at clubs all over, except in her hometown. Sad but true. Darin, Fei Fei and Kristina do a little bit of traveling all the time. I already did my share of traveling back in the days and haven't traveled recently, but I've been there too. I cut back on bookings in the last three years and I think that has brought my demand down quite a bit. I went from being a local DJ that was booked 4-5 nights a week, to now just being booked 1-2 times and I now became just another DJ. But I did it on purpose. I could've kept going if I wanted to, but that's a whole different story. Hope that makes sense.

I'm a headliner in Mexico now

quote:

Originally posted by DaveT Common sense defines the differences for me.

please educate on sutra sept 22 oh wise one.
According to the thread kristina sky is headlining, but as woody noted, she is a local and recently opened for ferry and markus.

quote:

Originally posted by 72hrpartyanimal the term headliner and local act/artist/dj can mean anything. I guess it's really how the promoter is presenting it.

Which is what is being done sept 22nd. I mean unless you get promoted from opener to headliner and can also be demoted...didnt know djing was like baseball. you get on a cold streak and BAM, youre going down to the minors for some seasoning!

quote:

Originally posted by bas I'm a headliner in Mexico now

Sweet! Please refer to paragraph two & four of my post.

quote:

Originally posted by bigperf didnt know djing was like baseball. you get on a cold streak and BAM, youre going down to the minors for some seasoning!

Sad but true. It does happen. It's all on the hands of the promoter & your relationship with them. Skills are becoming less relevant in this day of age.

quote:

Originally posted by modthispny woody, why did you decide to not be booked 4-5x a week and to travel? curious to hear your story

Long story short, I wasn't happy playing the gigs I didn't like. I was playing a lot of top 40 & hip hop gigs and I didn't like them at all. I was getting paid, and that's what mattered to me. On other words, I sold out. But now, it's all about the music for me!

I also got married, and became an old man. I can't hang now, playing on weekdays kills me! lol

And last, Politics. The DJ game is worse than Indecision 2012!

quote:

Originally posted by DaveT Common sense defines the differences for me.

bingo.

as they say on the monday night football pregame show

"c'mon man"

Well, every headliner you know had their start as an opener at some place. Everybody starts from somewhere. From what I can gauge, most people don't get into DJing so they can be the opener forever.

quote:

Originally posted by bigperf please educate on sutra sept 22 oh wise one. According to the thread kristina sky is headlining, but as woody noted, she is a local and recently opened for ferry and markus. Which is what is being done sept 22nd. I mean unless you get promoted from opener to headliner and can also be demoted...didnt know djing was like baseball. you get on a cold streak and BAM, youre going down to the minors for some seasoning!

No, it's just a locals night.

And again, common sense should explain then. Common sense is much easier as an explanation than detailing out what I mean to make someone understand. If you can't understand, you either 1) have nothing better to do than find something that contradicts what someone else and need to get a hobby or 2) don't use a lot of common sense!

quote:

Originally posted by bigperf please educate on sutra sept 22 oh wise one. According to the thread kristina sky is headlining, but as woody noted, she is a local and recently opened for ferry and markus. Which is what is being done sept 22nd. I mean unless you get promoted from opener to headliner and can also be demoted...didnt know djing was like baseball. you get on a cold streak and BAM, youre going down to the minors for some seasoning!

I may be in the minority in this one but I would never consider opening for someone like Ferry or Markus a "demotion"

I for one feel honored when I get to open for the acts that I do. Most of us who DJ really look up to these artists and opening for them in a respectful and proper manner can be very fulfilling.

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