quote:

Originally posted by zizack thats just not realistic. If you're playing out for the first time, chances are you're doing it as an opener or maybe in a lounge or bar. And as an opener or in a more low ket setting, you shouldn't be trying to "blow people away." my first gig was in a lounge as an opener..I sure as hell wasn't trying to blow people away trying to make peopel remember me....I was just trying to do my job, set a nice mood in the room and gain some experience in the process....

I kind of agree.

Yes, you are doing the right thing in respecting the time slot and it's good that you didn't take the place appart by trying to raise the roof.

But what I think TM is getting at is more, how you do it. You can play a warm up set and do it well. Your job at that point is to make more low key music seem great and make people want to dance (if applicable) etc.

Think of it more as being a flirt so you can tease them with some pretty good stuff as long as you don't exceed the BPM and energy of the main guy. It is tough though as some promoters and club owners can't tell the difference between a well played set that gets people excited and having a sucky DJ come on afterwards and make it seem like you didn't respect the slot.

The main point is really to do your job well.

The real chance to blow people away is either when you get a closing slot or a main one.

In my opinion it is more important to get the respect of the DJs you work with rather than the crowd when you start out. Followings start in time but you have to be able to work with the people around you. So in actual fact I think you did the right thing Zizack.

Cheers
Nem

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quote:

Originally posted by skip IMO a workplace that makes you work for free is not a workplace worth getting. and it's actually illegal here in finland for people to work for free, so the laws do apply here. slaves work for free. employees get paid for their work. would you give ass to some fat hairy dude if you'd get a "secure" job from him afterwards? i know i wouldn't. if you're working for free you're getting fucked. if you like that then i think you have some issues.

You are correct in principle but...

You haven't got the same level of competition in Finland as you have in Ireland or the UK. Getting a paying DJ job is like gold dust when you first start out.
I live in Brighton where the amount of DJs is nearly more than you have pigeons the only difference being that DJs don't shit allover statues and stuff.

Seriously though, the level of competition is insane. And there are really good DJs working for free here too.

Cheers
Nem

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quote:

Originally posted by Nemesis44 But what I think TM is getting at is more, how you do it. You can play a warm up set and do it well. Your job at that point is to make more low key music seem great and make people want to dance (if applicable) etc.

exactly

you "blew them away" by playing the best opening slot you can play

build it up for the headliner while not taking the wind out of their sails

a good opening dj is worth their weight in gold

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quote:

Originally posted by Tony Morello a good opening dj is worth their weight in gold

So you should ask for a couple mil for any 30 minute opening gig

I specifically asked this question geared to NYC
Most of you guys have gone on crazy rants that don't really relate to this. I think the market in nyc is unique because even though it may be competitive I feel it is unsaturated like markets in europe or even canada. Anyway, I think I know what I need to do now. I also think it is clear everyone seems to get into djing by doing something else, there is no clear cut way to do it so I will figure it out for myself

quote:

Originally posted by Scolomon I specifically asked this question geared to NYC Most of you guys have gone on crazy rants that don't really relate to this. I think the market in nyc is unique because even though it may be competitive I feel it is unsaturated like markets in europe or even canada. Anyway, I think I know what I need to do now. I also think it is clear everyone seems to get into djing by doing something else, there is no clear cut way to do it so I will figure it out for myself

Dude don't kid yourself.

Yes a lot of people ranted here but saying New York is unsaturated show that you are clueless.


Do play out in New York you usually have to start something yourself and build from there and you are given the option to play somewhere.

In regards to getting paid or not it's your call.

My belief is as others have said:
If the night is bringing in money then I'm not leaving without something in my pocket
If I'm playing for a friend for a one off thing I won't mind as much if I get nothing.

quote:

but Best Clubbing culture? Where do you go? lol

nah the clubbing culture is awful. i mean - we have spirit and a bunch of other dodgy haunts :\ bit new age for my tastes. the binge drinking makes it a cut above the rest though. every place is the best place evar when you are too pissed to care when i first came here i thought the irish had a drinking problem. i guess they see it the other way around - the rest of the world just doesnt drink enough. hah.

nothing like stumbling home at 6 am and seeing the wreckage (often i have to walk through temple bar). the carnage on bank holiday weekends is astonishing. you can count the pools of vomit from british stag parties and the ambulances cruising around. its like a warzone. but anywho...

greetings fellow dubliner!

Last edited by Derivative on Nov-07-2005 at 23:50

quote:

Originally posted by Derivative the carnage on bank holiday weekends is astonishing. you can count the pools of vomit from british stag parties and the ambulances cruising around. its like a warzone. but anywho...

He he, sounds like west street in Brighton on any weekend. Lots of Londoners come down for the weekends and think they are going bash the heads in of Brightoners and end up fighting other people from London... strange sense of poetic justice in that me thinks. A bunch of Chavs (Neds, scallies etc.) going apeshit in the mainstream clubs... I must be getting old.

Brighton's club scene is ok but tends to be dominated by hippy student indie rock or Drum and Bass. Couple of good house nights and a good trance night (depending on who the name is).

Hurray for UK and Ireland bindge drinking, it's what makes us different from the rest of Europe...

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first i open with a rant:

first of none of you DJ...for crying out loud the acronym DJ stands for Disk Jockey. That is a noun not a verb, so stop using as a verb. as a DJ you mix, spin, play records...use the correct grammar...

as far as gettind paid:...one is only worth as much as his audience is willing to pay for.

if you are asked to play then it's your right to negotiate payment. in the beging, most likely asking a large sum will get you a shut door, but being able to read the promoter and give him a price (to let him know you don't put in effort and work for free). if he can't afford to pay you, or you don't have a name...get something from him...drinks, entrace to some big events...but don't play for absolutely nothing. now careful i'm not saying you should getting money in return for your service, but don't accept rapidly a gig for no payment because then when you ask for payment you will not get called back.

quote:

Originally posted by alligator first i open with a rant: first of none of you DJ...for crying out loud the acronym DJ stands for Disk Jockey. That is a noun not a verb, so stop using as a verb. as a DJ you mix, spin, play records...use the correct grammar...

Rant noted.
Whilst you are indeed correct stating what is fact according to both Oxford and Cambridge standards in English, the verb 'DJ' is a coloquialism that has grown in large part by those outside the culture using it to describe and put into context something that is otherwise foreign to them.

This is an international forum with many non-native English speakers who take part. If everyone understands what is meant by a term even if it is grammatically incorrect then at least we have a common understanding.
Besides, if you really have a burning desire to educate those in need of grammatical assistance I would first stop off and any Hip Hop forum you care to name, as they are in far greater need of it than we are... well most of us.

And no, when you start working in a public environment building a reputation outweighs the financial. If people get to know you and have a good time and you build up a following, that is what puts you in a position to negotiate financial compensation. If you draw a crowd, promoters and club owners have to take you seriously. Because if you draw a crowd you can take that crowd with you.
I have done it, and I know others who have.

Your very first steps should be to get to know other DJs and work your way up, promoters, clubowners etc. Most promoters hear about you from DJs anway.

Nem

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quote:

Originally posted by Nemesis44 Rant noted. Whilst you are indeed correct stating what is fact according to both Oxford and Cambridge standards in English, the verb 'DJ' is a coloquialism that has grown in large part by those outside the culture using it to describe and put into context something that is otherwise foreign to them. This is an international forum with many non-native English speakers who take part. If everyone understands what is meant by a term even if it is grammatically incorrect then at least we have a common understanding. Besides, if you really have a burning desire to educate those in need of grammatical assistance I would first stop off and any Hip Hop forum you care to name, as they are in far greater need of it than we are... well most of us. Nem

my rant is mostly at the ones who consider themselve DJs...or are DJs...at least the one who practice mixing should use the words that describe their passion, past time or hobby correctly...if we the ones who practice cannot communicate and use the words in the correct sense of the word...then why expect the outsiders to.

as far as hip hop goes, i've never been a huge fan of it and i also think it's quality is overrated (but then again i have the chance to live on the north american continent)

quote:

Originally posted by Nemesis44 And no, when you start working in a public environment building a reputation outweighs the financial. If people get to know you and have a good time and you build up a following, that is what puts you in a position to negotiate financial compensation. If you draw a crowd, promoters and club owners have to take you seriously. Because if you draw a crowd you can take that crowd with you. I have done it, and I know others who have. Your very first steps should be to get to know other DJs and work your way up, promoters, clubowners etc. Most promoters hear about you from DJs anway.

yes, one very important point i forgot to mention

you want to be out, all the time, everywhere... see and be seen

become anyone and everyone's friend

then when it comes time to play, call every single last one

know your scene and everyone important in it

other djs become your new best friends, this is an industry of who you know
promoters do hear about other djs from their djs and djs they know

and yes, if you can't draw a crowd, you don't have anything to sell

i've had djs come down and not put any effort into promoting themselves and it's shown
the only people there were the regulars, they couldn't pull a crowd
so they just don't get another phone call for a while

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