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Let's talk about incoming (pg. 6)
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| kitphillips |
| quote: | Originally posted by cammaxwell
Well, I can only speak for Toronto mainly although as I said I do have a residency in Vancouver as well and I usually play several other clubs when I'm there (as well as haing plaing in the US/Mexico ect...). I'll admit that Toronto is probably one of the best EDM scene's in North America. we're lucky to have international headliners every weekend at several clubs, but to be honest we only have one super club with 3000 + people. The rest of the city has maybe 2-3 clubs that cater to EDM and are definitely more intimate with capacity around 300 +.
Maybe things are drastically different in other cites, but $250-$300 is definitely a normal average fee for most clubs. And that's per DJ with like 4-5 playing a night. The only time someone may expect to get less is if your a new "opening" DJ, or if you're playing some small little lounge/restaurant type place. |
Well, I don't know the scene there, but very very few DJs in sydney get paid that much. From what I can see the usual fee seems to be around 200 a night for an hour and a half to 2 hour set. And thats very dependant on where you play. We have a lot of small nights. The bigger clubs (in terms of capacity if not turnout) might pay more I don't know. They play top 40 cheese and don't want DJs, they want promoters who happen to know how to press play on a CDJ. |
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| Rodri Santos |
| quote: | Originally posted by kitphillips
Well, I don't know the scene there, but very very few DJs in sydney get paid that much. From what I can see the usual fee seems to be around 200 a night for an hour and a half to 2 hour set. And thats very dependant on where you play. We have a lot of small nights. The bigger clubs (in terms of capacity if not turnout) might pay more I don't know. They play top 40 cheese and don't want DJs, they want promoters who happen to know how to press play on a CDJ. |
This is exactly what happens here, they want people who can play the radio chart of that month, not mixing it, playing it. Since anyone can do this they pay so low fees and if you mix that tracks instead of just playing it and ask for more money they will think "similar, he ask for more money.... no way, the same guy all the time"
I think the problem is that some years ago there were true dj's. You had to buy vinyls and know how to mix, now anyone can burn a cd of illegaly downloaded music and press play.
Years ago a dj had to spend 100€ a month or so in vinyls so was like an investment "I had spent 1000€ this year on equipment and music , you've to pay me 100€ each night" and all the dj's were in a similar situation so if you wanted someone to play music you had to pay it.
Now it's 95% contacts 5% skill |
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| kitphillips |
While there's undoubtedly truth in that, if what the people want is top 40, then whether or not its downloaded illegally or pressed on a vinyl makes little difference in the scheme of things. I'm not going to play it either way.
I think the issue is that lack of taste among the general population. If they wanted good music, then the clubs would put on decent DJs to provide it. |
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| Richard Butler |
| quote: | Originally posted by kitphillips
I think the issue is that lack of taste among the general population. If they wanted good music, then the clubs would put on decent DJs to provide it.
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What is good music though...........
I like trance but my mates think it's lame and papy, inacessible and difficult to engage with. They most especially hate the long breakdowns.
As for pop - well the everage person just wants a simple memorable hook that is easy to angage with. I think Gaga is immensely better than any of us - which trance producer do we know that would have such an instant connection with the public.
Reminds me of film critics that fawn over some obscure arthouse french film but diss the American hollywood blockbuster - which is just easy to engage with and enjoy without a lot of deep thought.
I like pop and at the same time minimal tech - big uplifting trance in the main is a bit lame for me apart from certain trqacks like those of cold blue which standout.
So there! |
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| cammaxwell |
Well, I guess it really depends on where your from obviously. Here in Toronto their are lots of clubs playing R&B or Top 40, and they are busy every weekend, but there is only one super club with 3000+ (7000+ on the long weekend parties) and that club plays EDM. Not to mention the other AWESOME clubs that hold 300-400 that cater to our scene as well.
I know Toronto is one of the best EDM scene's in North America, but Europe definitely has a great scene and it's more "mainstream" there for sure.
I guess some of us are just lucky to be in cities that appreciate this kinda music, and one where the DJ's get paid properly too. |
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| Rodri Santos |
You can only play a long breakdown no matter if it's amazing or not if people is following you, and at most clubs you've 50% of the people watching your movements but the other half is drinking, talking far from the dancefloor that will think that the music has stopped.
And since many of the people aren't used to trance if you have them hands up when you play a 2 min break their hands will go down because they will think that you're playing a relaxing song now not realizing that it's the same track.
As for Lady Gaga don't call that trance please... eurodance at it's best, i would refer to her for everyone to wants to know what is a hook, really she has a lot to teach us and generally all the producers of the world about grabbing atention of the listener.
And generally the crowd doesn't know what he wants. Don't call me sexist but on some clubs the booth it's at almost the crowd level and then you have people suggesting tracks for you:
When some boys come to ask for a song it's actually something i can play and i like, if i am mixing trance they ask me for something like AvB, Tiesto etc... if i'm mixing house Sebastian Ingrosso, David Guetta, and often come to say things like what a good music , never heard something similar but it's good etc... there are few trance lovers and when they hear it they're so happy the same happens for me when i listen to trance tracks on a club, i go to say the dj how thankful i am that he played that and congratulate him/her.
But, when you see a group of girls (mostly some childs that came to the club because it's cool and fashionable and don't know how's the music inside) start asking for pop/rock/R&B something that for sure can't fix on a house/Trance set. You try to explain them in a kind way that it's not the music you are told to play and that it's absolutely impossible, i suggest something from David Guetta etc... but i can play one track, not the whole one love cd firstly because if i play it fully i'll surely vomit and second because the EDM lovers on the floor would start whistling me.
Now concluding, most boys go to the clubs to:
1.- Have girls
2.- Have drink and listen to good music
Girls generally hate EDM (Cultural issue maybe, at least on my country) if on the club there are no girls, boys go to other club, as a result you get few people that can be very happy with you but the owner doesn't value the quality of the crowd, he wants quantity.
So TOP 40 or die. I have thought several times that if on my city someone opened a good club of EDM (House at first, techno, close with trance etc... or just one clear style but all the time) with good dj's lights etc... if it has space to hold 500 people or so i think it will be full.
I know that if i want good gigs i must leave my city and excluding Ibiza i think the country too :( |
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| cammaxwell |
| quote: | Originally posted by Rodri Santos
I know that if i want good gigs i must leave my city and excluding Ibiza i think the country too :( |
Wait a minute.....you're in Spain? |
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| Rodri Santos |
i am and if you haven't been here what they told believe me it's not true.
On ibiza there is a lot of scene of all genres on Madrid there is scene for House or Techno, few Trance (First Trance festival has been held this year and i only know a small club of Trance).
But on the north where i live there is no scene. |
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| cammaxwell |
| quote: | Originally posted by Rodri Santos
i am and if you haven't been here what they told believe me it's not true.
On ibiza there is a lot of scene of all genres on Madrid there is scene for House or Techno, few Trance (First Trance festival has been held this year and i only know a small club of Trance).
But on the north where i live there is no scene. |
I've never been, but had heard there was a great house scene. But yeah, I guess it depends on where you are in the country. |
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| mfitterer1 |
Bottom line is if you're going to dj professionally you cannot expect to stay wherever you may live right now. There are too many factors and you'll soon find yourself living in a place of convenience to your career.
I myself have been saving and planning for the move for some amount of time; there is a lot to plan for and take care of in advance. Most places aren't going to be EDM meccas. Would be nice if they were but what fun would the life of a dj be if we all played in our home states/countries all of the time? |
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| music2dance2 |
If there is no demand for EDM or the scene isnt cutting it and you feel the fee's for DJ's arent enough, moving is a good option. As Cammaxwell said europe is great, many new countries to EDM are starting to accept EDM and its becoming very popular.
But there are alot of people doing it nowadays, so be patient. But the oppurtunites are there.
In birmingham in the UK where I live there are countless parties every weekend along with huge club nights like Godskitchen & Gatecrasher who host huge DJ's every week. You just have to research on where you want to reside when you decide to leave. Alot of places in the UK are like this & many other countries.
The other option is to run your own night but if the demand isnt there in your home town then you'll need lots of cash to get it off the ground and break new ground I guess. |
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| DjWoody |
I'll speak for LA & OC.
We are DJ Capital of the world and running a night is expensive. I've been on both sides of the coin; promoter & DJ.
Mainstream clubs in LA pay anywhere from $50 (Yes, some DJ's charge that), to a few hundred for local DJ's. Average pay here is $150 a night/set. NO JOKE!!!
On the other hand, at the EDM parties, it's different but a lot more tough to get gigs. Back in the Spundae @ Circus days, DJ's who played in the loft, did it for FREE, DJ's who played in the backroom split the backroom budget which was usually $600-$1000 per night. Mainroom DJ's, well that's where it got interesting and it really depended on the DJ. I got $250 once for opening up til 11pm, the DJ after me got $500, and then the headliner closed. Avalon is the same way, it depends on the value & following of the DJ.
My current pay at my residency, and I'm freakin LUCKY to have this pay in LA, is $250 and 5 drink tickets per set. I usually play 1 - 1 1/2 hours which is nothing! But, I've been at this club for 3 years and I worked my way up to that pay. There are times when I do get $300. The manager really takes care of me good, and gives me lots of promotion. My name is mentioned on all radio commercials & flyers every week. Plus, I don't have to take any equipment at all and I get to play the best of both worlds, the EDM I love & the Spanish Rock I love!!! The manager bought us a Rane TTM57 w/Serato & new CDJ's & DVJ's, so all we take is our laptop to play using Serato. We're spoiled there! lol |
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