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tell me: how to get hired as a dj
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| JoNMiTz |
I'm in norcal for the summer, and while it's nearly impossible to get hired as a dj in LA unless you're a big name or you know someone on the inside (of which i have neither)
I figure it would be really fun to go out at least a few times and play. The clubs up here are pretty small, so I figure that would be a good place to start.
The cities I'm looking at are modesto and sacramento (I figure S.F. is out of my reach at this point)
Making a demo isnt really a problem, I'm just looking for suggestions on how to present myself, and any good places to look at, since I'm not too familiar (yet) with the scene around here.
I figure that we can also turn this thread into useful information for any city because I know there are a lot of TA djs who just dont know how to get hired.
Normally I would just learn the hard way by not getting hired, however there are such few clubs around that play EDM (house/electro/techno (trance?)) that does not seem to be ideal.
any thanks is appreciated and remembered! :)
Current places I'm considering:
Fat Cat (Modesto)
Barcode (Sacramento)
yep that's all I know of :( |
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| bucke |
| i think its all about luck. and if you're lucky enough find some promoter who likes your music. i bet the edm scene up there is pretty small so probably not even worth trying. |
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| JoNMiTz |
| quote: | Originally posted by bucke
i think its all about luck. and if you're lucky enough find some promoter who likes your music. i bet the edm scene up there is pretty small so probably not even worth trying. |
well i'm going to try. it's something i really want to do so it's worth a shot even I just humiliate myself a few times in front of some management :P |
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| 72hrpartyanimal |
Its all about Pull and Promotions!
You gotta be able to pull a crowd via promotions either for the event you intend to play at or the promoter party in general...
Pull is the key word... there are a lot of good DJ's out there but no one knows who they are. Market yourself! |
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| JoNMiTz |
| quote: | Originally posted by 72hrpartyanimal
Its all about Pull and Promotions!
You gotta be able to pull a crowd via promotions either for the event you intend to play at or the promoter party in general...
Pull is the key word... there are a lot of good DJ's out there but no one knows who they are. Market yourself! |
I think I have a pretty big group of people I could get to come out. I could get most of my college friends and their friends, maybe a few TAs :P, and any of my fans from the bay area (probably 10-15 people?)
Thats a good 30-40+ if I could get the word out.
I suppose thats a start.
But thats still missing the link of how to actually get hired, I guess. |
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| 72hrpartyanimal |
| quote: | Originally posted by JoNMiTz
But thats still missing the link of how to actually get hired, I guess. |
You need to contact the promoters directly or have someone talk them for you (hence agencies)... |
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| JoNMiTz |
| quote: | Originally posted by 72hrpartyanimal
You need to contact the promoters directly or have someone talk them for you (hence agencies)... |
So I guess I'm back with the same probably as LA... I need to know someone :(
I guess I could put the word out and see if anyone knows any promoters! thanks for the help, should be a good start :) |
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| Jawn |
| It's not what you know but who you know...dj's are dime of dozen. |
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| DJ Reese |
| quote: | Originally posted by JoNMiTz
So I guess I'm back with the same probably as LA... I need to know someone :(
I guess I could put the word out and see if anyone knows any promoters! thanks for the help, should be a good start :) |
There are certain weekly spots you should try to get out to as much as possible. The more people see your face and get to know you the better chance you have.
Monday Social tonight would be a good place to start.
King King Fridays and Vanguard or Avalon Sats. The Aquagroove pool party Sunday's and Joseph's Sunday. Both of those are afternoon events.
There are ways to get gigs. But as a newbie out here, you have to start with getting to know some of the regular LA EDM clubbers and promoters. And at the very least you'll have some good times. |
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| bucke |
| quote: | Originally posted by Jawn
It's not what you know but who you know...dj's are dime of dozen. |
exactly. there are some really ty dj's that still get plenty of gigs. its almost embarrasing. |
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| DjWoody |
GET INVOLVED IN THE SCENE!!!
You'll be surprised how many doors that will open up. When I was doing Element, I was getting requests to DJ all the time. Once I stopped, the good gigs stopped. But I found a residency and I stayed there. Hehehe |
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| drEamer |
| get in touch with Skills or Wicked Mayhem.....they may be able to help u out....also, i would drop demos at every club u can think of, the Park seems to be a cool spot |
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