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Booking DJs, How Does It Work?
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| Maka08 |
| What's up guys, recently my friends and I decided we wanted to book a DJ for a club our here in LA. We have some venues in mind (supper,playhouse etc.) However, I was wondering how the process of booking a DJ works. I contacted the agencies of 9 different DJs and only got one response, after emailing back and forth the agency stated that they prefer dealing with in house bookings only. Is going through a club the only way to book a DJ? I hope someone can explain the way this works, thanks! |
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| darin epsilon |
| quote: | Originally posted by Maka08
What's up guys, recently my friends and I decided we wanted to book a DJ for a club our here in LA. We have some venues in mind (supper,playhouse etc.) However, I was wondering how the process of booking a DJ works. I contacted the agencies of 9 different DJs and only got one response, after emailing back and forth the agency stated that they prefer dealing with in house bookings only. Is going through a club the only way to book a DJ? I hope someone can explain the way this works, thanks! |
Generally you, as the promoter, put in a bid or an offer for talent, and then the booking agency will let you know whether or not they can work with you.
I would think that most serious agents would have already established a working relationship with the promoters here in LA, so it's tough for a new company to get started. I mean, depending how big of an act you were looking to book. |
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| RobertStern |
That being said, most Artists and Agency's tend to stick with people they know and trust. Making it almost impossible to book talent, unless your willing to pay 2,3x what they normally get.
Then throw in the fact that most of the contracts have restrictions on where and when djs can play after they have been booked. Further limiting the dj's that become available to some new kids on the block.
It's a very tight system and unless you have an "in" you might be spending alot of time spinning your wheels.
Good Luck |
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| Maka08 |
| So it seems that the only way to book a big name would be to bid a ridiculous amount? Otherwise those who are just starting up should be going for smaller names and then building up, quite a system. |
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| DaveT |
| That's how most of the big promoter today did it. Started small, built their way up. |
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| LMD |
| quote: | Originally posted by Maka08
What's up guys, recently my friends and I decided we wanted to book a DJ for a club our here in LA. We have some venues in mind (supper,playhouse etc.) However, I was wondering how the process of booking a DJ works. I contacted the agencies of 9 different DJs and only got one response, after emailing back and forth the agency stated that they prefer dealing with in house bookings only. Is going through a club the only way to book a DJ? I hope someone can explain the way this works, thanks! |
call me. Johnny LMD 714-623-3677 |
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| bas |
Most of everything you guys have said in here is completely wrong lol. If you have the money, you can book anyone you want regardless of how "new" you are.
That said, having a good working relationship with agencies will give you prior knowledge to their roster. You'd get emails saying "hey I'm organizing a tour for so and so and was wondering if you'd be interested, here's the dates".
If you put an inquiry in for a DJ and got no response it's likely that: a) you low-balled them big time, b) whichever DJ you're trying to book isn't available, c) they probably get tons of emails and haven't gotten to yours yet. It happens. |
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| 72hrpartyanimal |
| quote: | Originally posted by bas
Most of everything you guys have said in here is completely wrong lol. If you have the money, you can book anyone you want regardless of how "new" you are.
That said, having a good working relationship with agencies will give you prior knowledge to their roster. You'd get emails saying "hey I'm organizing a tour for so and so and was wondering if you'd be interested, here's the dates".
If you put an inquiry in for a DJ and got no response it's likely that: a) you low-balled them big time, b) whichever DJ you're trying to book isn't available, c) they probably get tons of emails and haven't gotten to yours yet. It happens. |
yes... everyone dj has a price. |
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| Dream Beamz |
| quote: | Originally posted by bas
Most of everything you guys have said in here is completely wrong lol. |
I think we were talking about real world scenarios where there would actually be a "chance" to turn a profit
If you want to call up and book Tiesto and not have a working relationship with AMonly, i suspect you wouldnt get him for any less than $200k for a weekday at a smaller venue leaving you no room to make money.
So yes every DJ has a price but if you dont have a working relationship then its not even worth making the phone call |
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| alan |
| quote: | Originally posted by Dream Beamz
I think we were talking about real world scenarios where there would actually be a "chance" to turn a profit
If you want to call up and book Tiesto and not have a working relationship with AMonly, i suspect you wouldnt get him for any less than $200k for a weekday at a smaller venue leaving you no room to make money.
So yes every DJ has a price but if you dont have a working relationship then its not even worth making the phone call |
Nope totally incorrect.
And yes, we only started 5 years ago.
I second Bas points on this matter. Then again, Bas throws events and I do too, so this is coming from "real world" promoters, so to speak.
In reference to the first poster, how can you ask a DJ when you don't even have a venue yet? How can they quote you if they don't know the capacity of the venue? And what makes you think you can get into Supperclub or Playhouse, etc? Who is the DJ you want to book? Just some items to clarify so it makes better sense.
End of the day, you can get any DJ you want. Its just negotiation. But dont go to agents with a half planned idea of "Im thinking of throwing an event here, hopefully, how much is it?" Give a date, give the venue size, etc. Dependent on the agency and DJ, downpayment ranges from 50% to 100%. |
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| bas |
| quote: | Originally posted by alan
In reference to the first poster, how can you ask a DJ when you don't even have a venue yet? How can they quote you if they don't know the capacity of the venue? And what makes you think you can get into Supperclub or Playhouse, etc? Who is the DJ you want to book? Just some items to clarify so it makes better sense.
End of the day, you can get any DJ you want. Its just negotiation. But dont go to agents with a half planned idea of "Im thinking of throwing an event here, hopefully, how much is it?" Give a date, give the venue size, etc. Dependent on the agency and DJ, downpayment ranges from 50% to 100%. |
Yeah venue makes a lot of difference, every time we've put an offer in on a DJ the very first questions back have to do with venue, capacity, and a basic idea of "who are you".
And obviously you're not going to be able to call up AMOnly and book Tiesto without them having some kind of prior knowledge as to who you are :stongue: |
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