So, I've been seeing a couple threads on here about "small towns and top 40" as well as alot of people getting their very first gigs which is cool. But I guess I have a strange mashed up version of both threads.

I live in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Which is about a 2 and 1/2 hour drive from Detroit, Michigan as I'm sure most of you have heard of that place

Grand Rapids is a medium sized city, with somewhat of a music scene dabbling in things from indie rock, hardcore and grindcore, avante garde jazz and rock as well as a tiny collective of folks dedicated to making dance music happen. Through tons of pushing and pulling we managed to get Dave Aude and DJ Dan here a few weeks ago!

However, as nice as that may sound, the real dance music scene of GR is almost NON-EXISTENT! I've been DJ'ing for about 2 years now, and have been lucky to have connected with the top DJ's at the top clubs in the city. I have 2 residencies which sounds great right? Well, Grand Rapids is almost 100% Top 40 and hip hop with NO variation. Not some dance, or some new funky hip hop or stylistically similar beat...just top 40 and hip hop and its pretty terrible. People come out up to 5 nights a week here and we have some good crowds, but the music is a crock of shit frankly. I come from a really varied musical background so I'm not trying to be all biased saying we should only play dance music, but god its sad here.

The only time we can play dance music and maybe get away with it is mega cheesy uber popular electro house or benny benassi. Of course theres nothing terribly wrong with that i guess, but after reading so many peoples stories about playing dance music in their cities it really sucks!

However, tonight (Friday the 15th), I finally have a real chance to play what I want. My favorite DJ is Michigans very own Matthew Dear also know as Audion. He played with Ryan Elliot at a club a few hours a way and the only other person I know in Grand Rapids thats into that kind of thing went to see him. Apparently my friend that went with me has some good connections in Detroit, home of all good techno, and introduced me. Somehow, as of just last week I got booked in a pretty well known club, The Works, in Detroit opening for Ryan Elliot at a good time slot 1130 to 1 and playing all the great techno and minimal I want. I honestly am brought to my knees by this opprotuniy after what seems like 1000's of top 40 parties and club nights.

To wrap this ass of a long post up, perhaps sticking with shit in your scene and making the best of it can actually eventually reap good things. Another DJ buddy of mine has Judge Jules looking at his tracks and has spun alongside Mixin Marc from Chicago.

Needless to say I'm a bit nervous as I've NEVER gotten to play what I want in front of people and despite lots of club experience, im curious to see what DJ'ing a city where there is somewhat of a scene is like.

Reading all the stories and things on TA has really been inspiring ever since I started, and wanna thank all of you who participate in these threads. Wish me luck, and if you got any tips on playing a glitchy techno set in a place you've never been with no experience in seeing how a crowd reacts to it let me know! haha

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Plink Plonk
Originally posted by SuspicionVandit
????

if you are moving from Riverside to LA, get a gun
if you are moving from LA to riverside, keep the gun, but put on a Panic@the Disco shirt. If you ever get caught without your shirt, your gonna need that gun

Nice man!!! congrats. That is awsome to be given the chance to play your favourite genre for a change. Im sure you will play a banging set, if in fact that is your favourite style of beats. I dont play techno or minimal, but listen to some other peoples sets for ideas and make sure you check out the track lists of the DJ your opening for, so you dont play the same tracks. Pose up a revies of the night.

Yes! As much as I love Ryan Elliot and his Spectral Megamix (which if you folks don't have you NEED to get!), I think it's really important to go for your own sound. I plan to play alot of good grooves and danceable stuff rather than super glitchy beats and whatnot. It is called dance music after all

But in any case, thanks for the kind words and I will be sure to give a full take on how it went down.

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Plink Plonk
Originally posted by SuspicionVandit
????

if you are moving from Riverside to LA, get a gun
if you are moving from LA to riverside, keep the gun, but put on a Panic@the Disco shirt. If you ever get caught without your shirt, your gonna need that gun

CONGRATS DUDE!!!

I'm always nervous for a minute no matter the size of the crowd! but you know as soon as i have the next track locked up ready to go it all goes away as i get lost in the music.....love that.

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PATRICK KROFT
PatrickKroft.com ~ DI.fm Tribal House DJ ~ Last.fm Tribal House

All is well! It was a kick ass party and I got to hand out a demo and contact information to some very promising individuals including the ever friendly Ryan Elliot. It was a great experience and most of all a great time after 100's of gigs that I've hated, to get ask to go somewhere like Detroit and play some music that you love. Can't think of a better feeling at the moment, (well maybe a few...) and whats more is people were enjoying it.
I DID trainwreck once out of nowhere...I was spot on for about an hour then at random I somehow got in conversation with some people and let a track almost runout and tried to hastily mix only to totally fail haha Oh well, it was funny and people just kinda smiled and joked about it. Good vibe, good time.

Really what I'd like to know is if theres anyone else in my similar situation?? A town with NO scene and the scene that does exist is as dirty as hell. I just hope those of you that have places to DJ or even dance dont EVER take it for granted!

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Plink Plonk
Originally posted by SuspicionVandit
????

if you are moving from Riverside to LA, get a gun
if you are moving from LA to riverside, keep the gun, but put on a Panic@the Disco shirt. If you ever get caught without your shirt, your gonna need that gun

quote:

Originally posted by Raveaddict19 All is well! It was a kick ass party and I got to hand out a demo and contact information to some very promising individuals including the ever friendly Ryan Elliot. It was a great experience and most of all a great time after 100's of gigs that I've hated, to get ask to go somewhere like Detroit and play some music that you love. Can't think of a better feeling at the moment, (well maybe a few...) and whats more is people were enjoying it. I DID trainwreck once out of nowhere...I was spot on for about an hour then at random I somehow got in conversation with some people and let a track almost runout and tried to hastily mix only to totally fail haha Oh well, it was funny and people just kinda smiled and joked about it. Good vibe, good time. Really what I'd like to know is if theres anyone else in my similar situation?? A town with NO scene and the scene that does exist is as dirty as hell. I just hope those of you that have places to DJ or even dance dont EVER take it for granted!

Yep. I have alot of problems getting out with my style of music here in Detroit. It is very hard to get any play time cause its all hip-hop and top 40. And you couldn't pay me to play rap or top 40. I have had people come up and put their fist down on the cd decks I was playing on cause they did not like trance. Very tough scene here. You think GR is tough? Can't wait to get outta this shit hole. If it werent for my mom being here I would of left and never looked back a long time ago. Anyway, you should PM me. I do know a couple other spots outside of the city in the surrounding citys that have trance and alot of other styles of EDM there. Ann Arbor is one of them. I don't know how far that is from you. Maybe we could start a movement and get rid of this shit hip hop and all the gun totting, crack dealing, worthless fcks around here! LOL

Anyway, Congrats!

Rock On,

Mike

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And The Beat Goes On

congrats on that gig mate

hope there'll be a lot more of them...I was lucky to get residency at a club here in my town...and I'm able to slip in some of the music I like pretty easily without the owner getting angry :-)

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