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Politics and DJing... (pg. 2)
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| Stu Cox |
| quote: | Originally posted by Meitro
Hey everyone... I'm new to this forum, but I'll keep the introduction short.
I'm 19 years old and am just starting to get booked regularily at clubs in my hometown. I love every second I'm on stage. The energy exchange between yourself and an audience is something truly powerful that I hope everyone on this forum will have the opportunity to experience many times in their lifetime.
Anyway, I have a question for those who have been doing this for a while: How the do you deal with the dickwad dj/promoter/agent?
I was an opening act for a headliner (whose name I wont bother mentioning). I promoted the hell out of this show, selling nearly 300 tickets (which is a sizeable contribution given the size of the venue being about 900) As I was driving down to the club before the show I get a call from my promoter saying that not only will my set be cut nearly in half, but the other local who was on after me was getting his set cut completely.
Do I have a right to be upset? What can I do to ensure this kind of thing wont happen again?
-M |
What was the reason for cutting your set short? Just to give the headliner longer? |
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| Meitro |
| Yeah Stu, it was just so the headliner could get more time. I found out that it was the agent's work, he's apparently notorious for doing stuff like this. |
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| DiscoStew |
It's his show, dude. I'm sorry your set got cut short but the job of the opener is to set the headliner up for success. So, you have to cater to his needs. It really is all about him.
Be grateful for having had the opportunity to spin with him. You really should use this as an opportunity rather than being upset. You got a lot of people out to the event, which is a considerable value proposition that you can leverage to land a recurring gig if you sell it to the venue owner or promoter correctly. |
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| mfitterer1 |
And people wonder why they are so stuck in their progressions with their musical careers. Have some balls (and confidence) and tell the promoter he can find someone else.
If you allow yourself to be walked over, you will be. If you have the talent; and you don't allow your abilities to be taken advantage of, you will get what you want (and deserve).
This may mean you miss out on this particular gig but I guarantee you people will notice and it will set you up in the future.
Especially in the case where you are bringing a large amount of the people coming, this is inexplicable. If nobody cuts down the douchebags at the top, they stay at the top. |
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| Dojomaster26 |
| quote: | Originally posted by mfitterer1
And people wonder why they are so stuck in their progressions with their musical careers. Have some balls (and confidence) and tell the promoter he can find someone else.
If you allow yourself to be walked over, you will be. If you have the talent; and you don't allow your abilities to be taken advantage of, you will get what you want (and deserve).
This may mean you miss out on this particular gig but I guarantee you people will notice and it will set you up in the future.
Especially in the case where you are bringing a large amount of the people coming, this is inexplicable. If nobody cuts down the douchebags at the top, they stay at the top. |
It really depends on where you stand with your sense of pride: Do you just want to get as many gigs as possible, or do you want to be picky and risk not having gigs for stretches of time?
I wish the people with talent "get what they want and deserve" but real life isn't like that. The reality is: that promoter is the key to staying at that club, and you have to choose between kissing his ass or going elsewhere.
For some (many?) starting DJs, there might not be an "elsewhere" to go to. I had that problem when I started out in small town Hickory. There were three clubs open when I started: the established Top40 club (open since the 70s, disco lights and all), a gay dance club, and a new Top40 club. The established club came with an established resident DJ who also happened to co-own the place and didn't need anyone else. The demo that I handed to the gay club ended up in a black hole somewhere (I never heard back from them; my CD was probably in someone's trash can).
The new club? Shady as hell with these european dudes running the place. I'm pretty sure there were some "white" parties going on in the club, but nonetheless I took the opportunity that presented itself just for the place to play at. I ended up hating the experience of playing the worst Top40 to white trash on crappy Stanton dual CD-players and busted headphones for almost no money (good times), but it was the only thing I could get. Still, it was through this awful gig that I ended up meeting a prominent Top40/Wedding DJ in the area, and had the opportunity to shadow him at a couple of events. I also had a lot of confidence for dealing with people (I'd experienced the worst of the s day in and day out) and playing for a crowd, which helped me get my foot in the door of a much better club a year later.
So what is the lesson in all of this? Either kiss-ass, get treated like for a while, and learn to tough up to those guidos that want to hear "Poker Face" for the 3rd time, or stay in the bedroom. Unfortunately, you can't be really selective of gigs when it comes to starting out, since there are too many people that will just walk in and take your spot from you (for less pay, even!) |
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| Yohan |
| you need to pick the battles you fight, but personally, i don't like being treated like dirt, regardless of how big my name is |
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| Dojomaster26 |
| quote: | Originally posted by Yohan
you need to pick the battles you fight, but personally, i don't like being treated like dirt, regardless of how big my name is |
I agree, and that's (partially) why I'm still rocking the bedroom.
There comes a point in every hobby where one needs to ask him/her self: Do I want to take this a step further, or just keep doing this for fun? Partially due to my current living situation, and partially due to a lack of time has make me decide to keep DJing as a fun hobby for the time being. If I wanted to, I could quit some of the things that I am doing now, build myself a website, and hit the streets to try and get gigs for myself, but for right now I have decided to just play for fun. I have what amounts to very expensive 'toys' because of this decision, but who knows what may happen a year or two from now :D
If you're going to take DJing seriously, then you will end up losing some of the fun in it, period. You have to deal with people in many states of inebriation, dodgy clubs, promoters, etc. You probably have to bite the bullet and play what the crowd wants to hear at each particular venue. If you want to make money, then you'll have to switch to Top40, produce a track and promote it like a cheap Craigslist whore, or become a wedding DJ.
Good luck. |
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| Stu Cox |
| quote: | Originally posted by Meitro
Yeah Stu, it was just so the headliner could get more time. I found out that it was the agent's work, he's apparently notorious for doing stuff like this. |
Agents are a pain in the arse. We used to have all sorts of problems with all of them wanting their DJ to be headliner etc.
I wouldn't blame the promoter for that, it can be really hard to accommodate everything and obviously the headliner comes first. Although if he didn't thank you for the tickets you'd sold, or apologise for cutting your set then feel free to call him a twat. |
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| Meitro |
| quote: | Originally posted by Stu Cox
Agents are a pain in the arse. We used to have all sorts of problems with all of them wanting their DJ to be headliner etc.
I wouldn't blame the promoter for that, it can be really hard to accommodate everything and obviously the headliner comes first. Although if he didn't thank you for the tickets you'd sold, or apologise for cutting your set then feel free to call him a twat. |
I really don't blame him. He's a good guy. I just wont let it happen again. I think he knows this.
Anyway, thanks for the advice. I think as long as you show promoters respect then you can expect the same from them, and if they don't give you what you deserve, em. |
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| Allied Nations |
Cry about it!
Hahaha no, don't do anything, just keep rocking it- you're still getting great exposure from the gig.
Just make sure the agreed fee stays the same- I doubt the headliners changed with the timeslot change so they have no right to shift your numbers around. |
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| xiad |
I'm with the crew that says "keep at it".
"When the goin' gets tough the tough get goin'". You GOTTA take the ty jobs man. When I was in college I would do the random sorority party here and there, which in the middle of bumfuq Nebraska meant white trash, ty hiphop and slut rock. Since I was the only 'dj' in the area (and since I was ing that groups social chair ;-)) I was 'allowed' 90 mins to do my 'techno-thing'
They paid me $60 bucks, bought me a case of beer (and endless shots), and I got to play my music for 90 mins...
Granted,I had to crossfade between Nickleback and Akon...so it could have been better...but on the flip side...it could have been worse! I could have been stuck at home watching the news...or out $40 at the bar...
You gotta cut your teeth somehow...prove yourself, gain recognition and a decent slice of respect, and sooner than later you'll be headlining, and everyone can blow you (or give you a bunch of blow--whichever is better is your case)
If I were in your shoes, i'd take the downtime at the club when you're not spinning to get to know people there, because it's usually the familiar face thing that gets you gigs; which in turn leads to more exposure, which means more gigs, which means more recognition, and sooner than you know it, you'll be opening for ARMIN!!!! :eek:
but, no really, i think you get my point. |
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| RichieV |
| quote: | Originally posted by Meitro
Hey everyone... I'm new to this forum, but I'll keep the introduction short.
Do I have a right to be upset?
-M |
You have a right but be upset on the inside. You said you are new, you are replaceable, and a promoter will just not book you ever if you start demanding things at this stage.
Express your discontent but let him know you understand and you will do it to help him out. You have absolutely no leverage unless you throw events yourself. The promoter can and will find a hundred other willing djs/flyer boys. |
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