OK, I've got decks and I can beat match and have lots of music etc.. now I want to perform, what now?

I know the basics of starting a night on your own (not playing for a specific dance group such as godkitchen) -

- talk to a bar/venue,

You provide:

- Equipment (or hire the speaker system as I already have decks)

- Promotion of the night (unless they prefer to go through their own channels)

They provide:

- The venue (of course)

- The drinks

- General Bar service + Security

The questions I have are:

Do you need a business plan to present to the venue or can you just go around to bars and describe the type of night you want to put on and your ideas + show them the music you want to play using a demo tape.

It would be ideal to show the venue a case study of previous successfull night at other bars but obviously doing it first time you wont have one.

I mean, the business plan must be pretty simple, they make money from the drinks - you get paid to DJ (not expecting too much first off if anything) and possibly a small entrance fee(I say small fee if anything because these are fairly small bars).

Also, could they be expected to pay for the sound system or is it common knowledge that the DJ always pays?(if they dont pay you for the night and the equipment it'd get expensive having to pay to hire equipment all the time).

Most of the venue's I'm thinking about dont have a proper sound system for DJ'ing (if they do great) and it would be a totally new night compared to what they would usually have (just a bar with a digital jukebox for instance) however these venues do have ideal areas (some outside) to throw such an event.

I'm 21 so know what younger people are in to around these parts (UK,Midlands) and would probably throw a House-themed night (drum and bass and bands are mainly the only music that gets played live around here,same as most of the UK currently I expect, which is kind of why I want to start my own because there arnt any house promoters around here that I am aware of), funnily enough most of the dance groups involved with Drum and Bass have been banned from most venue's due to violence.

I'm not talking about those mobile Dj's who go around to weddings or joining a dance promotion group - Im talking about tailored nights for a bar with the possiblilty of a permanent night or at least a test one.

Anyway, any tips would be appreciated!

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quote:

Originally posted by daeus funnily enough most of the dance groups involved with Drum and Bass have been banned from most venue's due to violence.

Drum and Bass, violent? That's crazy. I wondered about the "hard" image DnB promotes here in california, but I thought it was a load of crap since all the ravers are on e and pretty peaceful. So is Dnb over ther like rap is over here? I know a few hip-hop clubs that are notorious for having brawls all the time...

Sorry I don't have any advice on how to be a DJ. I never got the chance because my son was born when I was still at the house party stage of my "career." best of luck to you though!

moving this to the dj booth is step 1.

quote:

Originally posted by Protege moving this to the dj booth is step 1.

But this is DJ Promotion ? lol Seemed relevant to me, it can be moved if needed...

quote:

Originally posted by Delicious Nick Drum and Bass, violent? That's crazy. I wondered about the "hard" image DnB promotes here in california, but I thought it was a load of crap since all the ravers are on e and pretty peaceful. So is Dnb over ther like rap is over here? I know a few hip-hop clubs that are notorious for having brawls all the time...

Yea, Garage and RnB have it fairly bad here too, DnB the worst though, people do take E at these things but also do the rest..

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I know personally, whenever I listen to DnB I get the urge to set fire to something or break glass. lol...

quote:

Originally posted by daeus OK, I've got decks and I can beat match and have lots of music etc.. now I want to perform, what now?

Learn something beyond beatmatching.

quote:

Originally posted by Demoted Learn something beyond beatmatching.

...you need to be able to count the measures as well. its not enough just to be able to blend 2 songs together but you have to know when and where to mix in / mix out of trax...

quote:

Originally posted by djrodimus ...you need to be able to count the measures as well. its not enough just to be able to blend 2 songs together but you have to know when and where to mix in / mix out of trax...

Sorry I kind of meant that too, Been listening to the dance music since 14 so you can imagine ive heard allot of stuff (21 now) Ill have to put up a set sometime.

Just need to know if anyones got any guidelines to setting this thing up otherwise I suppose ill just have to go for it, think Ive got a pretty good idea about it all talking to some music promotion groups (like godskitchen but smaller).

___________________
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