NickJames
02-06-2012, 11:54 AM
I figure we should start rebuilding some of the old guides... I'll post what I have, you post what you have, and I will combine it all in to a proper guide.
These are the tips I post on Reddit and Y! Answers. They are partially based on the old guide along with personal experience and anecdotes.
What kind of DJ do you want to be? Do you want to drink on the job or party with E tards?
Figure out what kind of gigs you want. Do you want to play lounges? Clubs? Raves/Parties? Each avenue will be different. The expectations of promoters, the amount you can expect to make, and how you should approach the scene will all be different depending on what kind of DJ you want to be.
How many blowjobs are you willing to give?
Don't think you can get by on just skill. This is a popularity contest. I trained a guy on basics of club DJing and within a couple months he was playing gigs all over because he worked rooms, would tell everyone who would listen that he was a "dj", got himself in close with all of the "DJ whores" (DJ's who play everywhere) in town, and blew smoke up the asses of every promoter who he could find. Compare that the DJs I know who have been playing for years and spin like once a month or less because they don't have time for networking.
If you are not willing to do similar at least until you make a name for yourself, you will fail.
How many bangers can you cram into a set?
How much people like you matters more then how good you are or how much you know about music. It doesn't matter how long you spend alone making sure every mix is absolutely perfect or learning every single unknown artist in a genre; If you don't turn heads when you finally play in a crowd you'll be done.
Remember, your average club or party goer has no idea what beat matching is. Sure, they'll notice if you trainwreck really badly over and over but they are going to notice your song selection and programming before they notice your skill.
Look at Pauly D, crowds love him: He plays what is popular, he knows how to work a crowd, and he has celebrity appeal. Most DJ's hate him: He lacks any serious skill. You don't get to decide what's popular until you're popular.
Money, money, MONEY!
To a club or promoter you are a tool for making money. If a promoter or club manager cannot see how you are going to make them money they won't hire you. You will need lots of facebook friends or twitter followers that you can advertise to. Your first couple "auditions" won't just be looking for how well you do behind the decks they will be looking for how many people you bring out and how much they spend.
Start padding your facebook friends list now so you can pimp your events hard.
Don't be a hermit, go get drunk, RIGHT NOW!
Get out there starting now! Start meeting people. As someone who has helped hire DJs before I am more inclined to hire people I have seen out supporting the scene or the club before someone who absolutely nobody recognizes.
Start meeting the people at parties, start meeting other DJs, start meeting promoters. You're more likely to get a gig if when a promoter asks other people if they know who you are they say "yeah, I've met him before."
Don't be picky, you don't have the luxury yet!
Don't set your sights on any particular club or party circuit when you first start looking for gigs. Take ANYTHING you can get; drop your demo everywhere, apply everywhere, and shake every hand you can. This is your opportunity to start making a name for yourself and it doesn't matter where you do this. Once you build a following then you can start being picky.
Other DJs are elitist assholes.
If you're a controller DJ and looking to play clubs, learn to use CDJs or don't tell anyone about the controller until after you have the gig booked. Promoters and club owners don't care what you use but other DJs tend to look down on controllers. If a club owner for example defers to one of their residents to decide if you should get a gig and they know you use a controller that resident may tell them to pass. Do not discuss gear until the gig is locked down it should not be a deciding factor.
Good luck!
These are the tips I post on Reddit and Y! Answers. They are partially based on the old guide along with personal experience and anecdotes.
What kind of DJ do you want to be? Do you want to drink on the job or party with E tards?
Figure out what kind of gigs you want. Do you want to play lounges? Clubs? Raves/Parties? Each avenue will be different. The expectations of promoters, the amount you can expect to make, and how you should approach the scene will all be different depending on what kind of DJ you want to be.
How many blowjobs are you willing to give?
Don't think you can get by on just skill. This is a popularity contest. I trained a guy on basics of club DJing and within a couple months he was playing gigs all over because he worked rooms, would tell everyone who would listen that he was a "dj", got himself in close with all of the "DJ whores" (DJ's who play everywhere) in town, and blew smoke up the asses of every promoter who he could find. Compare that the DJs I know who have been playing for years and spin like once a month or less because they don't have time for networking.
If you are not willing to do similar at least until you make a name for yourself, you will fail.
How many bangers can you cram into a set?
How much people like you matters more then how good you are or how much you know about music. It doesn't matter how long you spend alone making sure every mix is absolutely perfect or learning every single unknown artist in a genre; If you don't turn heads when you finally play in a crowd you'll be done.
Remember, your average club or party goer has no idea what beat matching is. Sure, they'll notice if you trainwreck really badly over and over but they are going to notice your song selection and programming before they notice your skill.
Look at Pauly D, crowds love him: He plays what is popular, he knows how to work a crowd, and he has celebrity appeal. Most DJ's hate him: He lacks any serious skill. You don't get to decide what's popular until you're popular.
Money, money, MONEY!
To a club or promoter you are a tool for making money. If a promoter or club manager cannot see how you are going to make them money they won't hire you. You will need lots of facebook friends or twitter followers that you can advertise to. Your first couple "auditions" won't just be looking for how well you do behind the decks they will be looking for how many people you bring out and how much they spend.
Start padding your facebook friends list now so you can pimp your events hard.
Don't be a hermit, go get drunk, RIGHT NOW!
Get out there starting now! Start meeting people. As someone who has helped hire DJs before I am more inclined to hire people I have seen out supporting the scene or the club before someone who absolutely nobody recognizes.
Start meeting the people at parties, start meeting other DJs, start meeting promoters. You're more likely to get a gig if when a promoter asks other people if they know who you are they say "yeah, I've met him before."
Don't be picky, you don't have the luxury yet!
Don't set your sights on any particular club or party circuit when you first start looking for gigs. Take ANYTHING you can get; drop your demo everywhere, apply everywhere, and shake every hand you can. This is your opportunity to start making a name for yourself and it doesn't matter where you do this. Once you build a following then you can start being picky.
Other DJs are elitist assholes.
If you're a controller DJ and looking to play clubs, learn to use CDJs or don't tell anyone about the controller until after you have the gig booked. Promoters and club owners don't care what you use but other DJs tend to look down on controllers. If a club owner for example defers to one of their residents to decide if you should get a gig and they know you use a controller that resident may tell them to pass. Do not discuss gear until the gig is locked down it should not be a deciding factor.
Good luck!