DJs How did you get your first break?
- Thread starter DJ Bigga
- Start date
How many more feel underpaid?
What area are you in and how much each night ?
What area are you in and how much each night ?
I was playing funky house for awhile, with a couple of mates, being paid.
Basically we did a lot of knocking on doors - bars we knew that had the right set up in terms of kit and potential customers. When we landed a one off gig, we then did alot of flyering etc and general talking the night up - alot of (I hate this phrase) networking.
We lost money on the nights that we were wholly ours (i.e. exclusive hires, tickets, etc), but touted ourselves around more, did a one off with a bar and rammed the place (queue down the street) who then offered us the Saturday night residency.
We were collectively paid £150 a night and drinks were free. Not really a living, but it funded our vinyl for awhile, and gave us some added credibility when touting for other gigs.
When weren't doing the residency, we did house parties for free provided the organiser rented decks and a PA. There'd usually be plenty of booze and other stuff laid on, and there was plenty of attention from women, which was nice.
If you're a bedroom DJ playing dance music, here's one route, based on my experience. It only works if your style can work in a bar...
Get out and get talking about yourself. If helps alot if you live in a city. Burn some demo CDs, get round every bar that has potential. If that means being out several nights a week just doing that, then that's what it takes.
It's worth trying to understand what each venue is about - what time of the day or week would your style work? Ask who arranges their music - don't bother pitching at anyone else. Be nice, be professional, be sober. It should be the main purpose of your visit. Don't decide to have a word after you've been in there for a couple of hours with your mates.
It's well worth finding a DJing partner to do it with. You'll be more confident in doing the rounds, and if there's more than 1 of you, you can more easily play a longer slot.
Basically we did a lot of knocking on doors - bars we knew that had the right set up in terms of kit and potential customers. When we landed a one off gig, we then did alot of flyering etc and general talking the night up - alot of (I hate this phrase) networking.
We lost money on the nights that we were wholly ours (i.e. exclusive hires, tickets, etc), but touted ourselves around more, did a one off with a bar and rammed the place (queue down the street) who then offered us the Saturday night residency.
We were collectively paid £150 a night and drinks were free. Not really a living, but it funded our vinyl for awhile, and gave us some added credibility when touting for other gigs.
When weren't doing the residency, we did house parties for free provided the organiser rented decks and a PA. There'd usually be plenty of booze and other stuff laid on, and there was plenty of attention from women, which was nice.
If you're a bedroom DJ playing dance music, here's one route, based on my experience. It only works if your style can work in a bar...
Get out and get talking about yourself. If helps alot if you live in a city. Burn some demo CDs, get round every bar that has potential. If that means being out several nights a week just doing that, then that's what it takes.
It's worth trying to understand what each venue is about - what time of the day or week would your style work? Ask who arranges their music - don't bother pitching at anyone else. Be nice, be professional, be sober. It should be the main purpose of your visit. Don't decide to have a word after you've been in there for a couple of hours with your mates.
It's well worth finding a DJing partner to do it with. You'll be more confident in doing the rounds, and if there's more than 1 of you, you can more easily play a longer slot.
Have never really made the effort to make it anywhere; bar playing at friend's parties and the ocasional opportunity when i've got records with me and there's been a free slot here and there.
Have stopped 'practicising' so much and looking around for free slots in favour of learning to produce music, which hopefully will give me some edge over the rest of the crowd later on. Personally i've found it a bit difficult playing and recording mixes at home without having a crowd (no matter how few) to listen to and play off of reactions.
Don't really care about DJing or producing for a living, as long as i can do i can carry on doing it i'm not really bothered about making money out of it, as long as i don't make many losses along the way i'm not really bothered.
Have stopped 'practicising' so much and looking around for free slots in favour of learning to produce music, which hopefully will give me some edge over the rest of the crowd later on. Personally i've found it a bit difficult playing and recording mixes at home without having a crowd (no matter how few) to listen to and play off of reactions.
Don't really care about DJing or producing for a living, as long as i can do i can carry on doing it i'm not really bothered about making money out of it, as long as i don't make many losses along the way i'm not really bothered.
Mrs Magpie
On a bit of break...
I only know one DJ* who makes a living and has done for years. He started off decades ago doing Northern Soul and just kept his ear open as to what people in clubs liked. It's a full time job though, getting publicity out, designing flyers, putting money upfront to hire venues etc etc.
*not that I move in those circles at all, I only know him through his sister.
*not that I move in those circles at all, I only know him through his sister.
brokenyolk
vegetable lover
I used to do the odd wedding party etc. mostly gained through word of mouth from one event to the other - did it for the money and the hope that it would be a good experience. I was pretty good at it too.
I gave up last year cos at 80% of the events some party guests could be really annoying and they made me feel miserable. The money was good, but not worth it.
Now I quite happily stick to playing regular low/no paid slots at great nights where I'll have a good time.
I gave up last year cos at 80% of the events some party guests could be really annoying and they made me feel miserable. The money was good, but not worth it.
Now I quite happily stick to playing regular low/no paid slots at great nights where I'll have a good time.
clandestino
no llevar papel
brokenyolk said:
i refuse to do weddings now as well. i've only done them for friends and even then i didn't enjoy them. there's just too much pressure, and you always get hassle from the guests. when it's your own night, you can be hardline about why you won't play a certain song, but when it's a wedding you're really there to please the crowd, no matter what. i get asked quite a lot to do weddings and i always decline.
Lisarocket
In bed with me dinner
I'm doing a wedding for a friend of a friend on Saturday in Essex. It's turning into a bit of a nightmare. I've just found out that the Bride and Groom are providing a list of songs that they've asked all the guests to pick!!! I have to play the 'approved list' right at the begining for about half an hour, somewhere in the middle for about an hour (between the irish band's 2 very long sets), and the last hour of 'slow music' 
They could have done it themselves, no need for me really, just put a couple of cd compilations on or something.
They could have done it themselves, no need for me really, just put a couple of cd compilations on or something.clandestino
no llevar papel
in a way, i'd say that might make it easier for you. if your selection isn't getting the crowd going, you can always throw in a few tunes from the approved list. there's nothing worse than playing a set that usually storms it elsewhere to find that it's fallen totally flat and everyone's complaining. don't forget the guests will be on the other side of a boozy dinner and a ton of champers, so they'll be happy to complain...!
have fun
have fun
Lisarocket said:I'm doing a wedding for a friend of a friend on Saturday in Essex. It's turning into a bit of a nightmare. I've just found out that the Bride and Groom are providing a list of songs that they've asked all the guests to pick!!! I have to play the 'approved list' right at the begining for about half an hour, somewhere in the middle for about an hour (between the irish band's 2 very long sets), and the last hour of 'slow music'
just stock up on those big cd packs produced especially for weddings - or better still get a laptop and just download thousands upon thousands of tunes, so you always have the right one. wedding dj is to be avoided by and large unless it's purely a business / money making machine.
top_biller
a big bowl of wrong
I had two boxes of records shipped out to Darwin, Australia whilst I was working over there in my gap year and got a few sets at their one and only club, Time, purely on the back of being English and having a lot of promos and stuff that wouldn't see the light of day out there.
I ended up entering the Northern Territory DMC heats and got through to the final where I got an admirable second (and missed out on being roundly humiliated by technically jaw dropping scratch DJ's at the final in Sydney by one point - gutted at the time but in hindsight......).
Played a lot of parties and bars at Uni then started up a jungle night called Warning (Newcastle, not Cambridge) where we basically just got all our favourite DJ's up. There were a few jungle nights on at the time but they were getting people like Ed Rush and Fabio whereas we were getting DJ's like Kenny Ken and Brockie, plus we always booked wicked MC's, so it was a bit more for the heads rather than the student crowd.
After that it was an old school hardcore night called History Of Dance which really took off but again, we never made any cash out of it, just did it to play our favourite tracks fucking loud and warm up for DJ's I'd been listening to on mixtapes for years.
Those were the peak years, now I'm down here its gone off the boil a bit. Big plans for 2006 when I get my arse in gear though!
I ended up entering the Northern Territory DMC heats and got through to the final where I got an admirable second (and missed out on being roundly humiliated by technically jaw dropping scratch DJ's at the final in Sydney by one point - gutted at the time but in hindsight......).
Played a lot of parties and bars at Uni then started up a jungle night called Warning (Newcastle, not Cambridge) where we basically just got all our favourite DJ's up. There were a few jungle nights on at the time but they were getting people like Ed Rush and Fabio whereas we were getting DJ's like Kenny Ken and Brockie, plus we always booked wicked MC's, so it was a bit more for the heads rather than the student crowd.
After that it was an old school hardcore night called History Of Dance which really took off but again, we never made any cash out of it, just did it to play our favourite tracks fucking loud and warm up for DJ's I'd been listening to on mixtapes for years.
Those were the peak years, now I'm down here its gone off the boil a bit. Big plans for 2006 when I get my arse in gear though!
Orang Utan
Maybe I like the misery
In that case, can I brazenly ask you to burn me one of your mixes then or point me to somewhere where one is hosted? There's a good chap. Much obliged. CheerioMysteryGuest said:
ouchmonkey
Singe Gainsbourg
top_biller said:
I know it's just a handy geographical clarification, but the whole thing makes a great name. Use it for your new 2006 night eh?
Boogie Boy
Rockin' on the 1210s
DJ Bigga said:
Wouldn't call myself a Pro, but I have been known to turn up in the strangest of places. I think the key to success is to be passionate about what you are doing, music has to be a complete part of your being, and this will come through in your work.Of course skills are important (although the demand for technical skills such as scratchin'/cutting/transforming/blending style will vary from genre to genre) but it is no good being technically profficient if you don't care about what you are playing.
Grandmaster Flash and DJ Cheese - thank you!
BB
xes
F.O.A.D
I just said that cos a) moggy did the snooker gag,and b) I've not had my big break yet. Allthough I do have an opertunity to start a night in a pub near me,which will inevitably flop,cos it's not the sort of area to have a techno/acid techno/gabba night. I just haven't taken the opertunity.DJ Bigga said:Please do
Which is entirely my fault
Lisarocket
In bed with me dinner
ianw said:in a way, i'd say that might make it easier for you. if your selection isn't getting the crowd going, you can always throw in a few tunes from the approved list. there's nothing worse than playing a set that usually storms it elsewhere to find that it's fallen totally flat and everyone's complaining. don't forget the guests will be on the other side of a boozy dinner and a ton of champers, so they'll be happy to complain...!
have fun
I've done weddings before, but the only reason i agreed to do this one is because it was for a couple of musos and it wasn't going to be trad wedding music. That's what they said before they asked all their rellies to suggest two tunes! I was suspicious at the time they asked me because whatever the bride and groom say about not wanting cheesy music, the rellies usually have different ideas and people actually do want to hear 'wedding music'.
I did a xmas party last year where they said that they didn't want any xmas songs....until they'd all had a few. Good job that i knew they'd change their minds.
Most of the selections for the wedding aren't too bad, but there are some tunes i've been told i must play, like the one for the bride's sister- The final countdown! There's an Abba tune and The weather girls too...If they want cheese they are getting cheese...
This will probably be the last wedding i ever do...
i playout at least 4 times a week, 3 clubnights and 1 (non-paid)pirate radio show. mostly reggae/bashment with a touch of hiphop/Rnb
i think to start out you've gotta firstly know that you're good enough because of all the practice you've done and money you've spent, you've gotta speak to the right people that can give you opportunities and you've gotta have big tunes that will impress people hearing you for the first time.
i know some wanna be Dj's are lazy, they don't attend a night they've asked to play at. a promoter is only gonna give you a chance if he's heard of you or recognise you as a loyal punter with potential. nuff dj's show up out of the blue with a skippy CD-R mix and ask to play, unless that mix is outstanding its gonna endup as a coffeemat.
Lots of dj's i know don't keep up to date with new tune. because i play reggae i need to have all the same tunes as the big radio/club Dj's or i'm second-rate, no? also exclusive tunes / remixes help distinguish you from the regular.
my advice also is not to be a bum-licker and don't get into the politics between nights.
people that Bum-lick promoters and sware allegience to certain nights do get plays but are fucked when things move on (which they always do...)
i think to start out you've gotta firstly know that you're good enough because of all the practice you've done and money you've spent, you've gotta speak to the right people that can give you opportunities and you've gotta have big tunes that will impress people hearing you for the first time.
i know some wanna be Dj's are lazy, they don't attend a night they've asked to play at. a promoter is only gonna give you a chance if he's heard of you or recognise you as a loyal punter with potential. nuff dj's show up out of the blue with a skippy CD-R mix and ask to play, unless that mix is outstanding its gonna endup as a coffeemat.
Lots of dj's i know don't keep up to date with new tune. because i play reggae i need to have all the same tunes as the big radio/club Dj's or i'm second-rate, no? also exclusive tunes / remixes help distinguish you from the regular.
my advice also is not to be a bum-licker and don't get into the politics between nights.
people that Bum-lick promoters and sware allegience to certain nights do get plays but are fucked when things move on (which they always do...)
Just taken an abba night gig.
They want abba, abba, oh and abba
where did I put that mp3 box ?
They want abba, abba, oh and abba
where did I put that mp3 box ?
Grandma Death
Reconfiguring & Reconstructing
Im not a pro....pro as in my means of income.
But I have a residency and have had a few over the years as well as promoting nights Ive played at.
My first 'break' I got was off the back of a demo. Although by the time I had done this I had played at 2 nights I co promoted. I saw an advert in the local paper for a night deep in the heart of the welsh valleys for DJs...I sent out a tape and got a call a few days later. I played there for about a year and a half before moving on to other nights.
That first year and half was great-I got to play alongside 'pro' DJs and even though the club was a dive I enjoyed every minute of it.
But I have a residency and have had a few over the years as well as promoting nights Ive played at.
My first 'break' I got was off the back of a demo. Although by the time I had done this I had played at 2 nights I co promoted. I saw an advert in the local paper for a night deep in the heart of the welsh valleys for DJs...I sent out a tape and got a call a few days later. I played there for about a year and a half before moving on to other nights.
That first year and half was great-I got to play alongside 'pro' DJs and even though the club was a dive I enjoyed every minute of it.
start the thread mate, as long as it's not an uber plug you should be ok
DJ Bigga said:big up yourself!
Maybe we need a 'Where I'm Playing' thread for DJs? Or would this sort of thing be 'frowned upon' ?
Mod?
apart from the fact that I'm still of the opinion that anyone with "DJ" in their username should get an instant ban - I think this would be ok as long as it wasn't hi-jacked by people who made no other contribution to the boards.
It should be for regular known posters.
But that's just my opinion - I'll see what the other mods think ...
editor
hiraethified
The only thing I can scratch is my arse, my attempts at 'beat-matching' sound like a galloping herd of horses and the only DJ techniques I've learnt is how to play records one after another (usually) without big gaps inbetween.
Although there is absolutely a technical skill involved in 'proper' DJing, for most people a decent record collection, some idea of what's appropriate and an over-riding, infectious enthusiasm to share the songs they love with the crowd should be enough to get a good response.
Although there is absolutely a technical skill involved in 'proper' DJing, for most people a decent record collection, some idea of what's appropriate and an over-riding, infectious enthusiasm to share the songs they love with the crowd should be enough to get a good response.
Similar threads
