daguirre10
Just wanted to get some insight from the more experienced Dj's on whats the best approach on getting a gig at a club. I just moved from L.A., to TX, its kinda of a different scene out here. Dallas is kinda like L.A. but still different. Some of the Dj's that I have heard at some of the bar's and clubs around here are not great. (To the few bars and clubs that I've been to. No disrespect to anyone from the Dallas/Ft. Worth area) I've just been use to hearing Power 106, 100.3 The Beat, and other L.A. stations. Those guys have SKILLS!!! But being around here I know I can do better than the people I have heard. I've made mixed cd's for friends, and they give me props. One of my good buddies from L.A. came to TX to visit and he listend to one of my mixes that I had in the car, and he even asked who made the mix, cuz he liked it. (Pretty proud moment for me, do to the fact he uses Serato, and he's really good!) Anywho, I'm serious about getting a spot, what advice is out there? I'm kinda of scared of just leaving my demo's and them just jacking my stuff. Also what's the proper length for demo's?
geposted Tue 06 Mar 07 @ 7:13 am
wildcountryclub
find a club thats short one dj - even if their resident dj is the only one there - and sell yourself to them. do some research - find out how the club has been doing, if they have a set format and if its something you'd be happy spinning, or if they'll let you have a free hand with the music.
differences between texas and cali? sometimes its the land that time forgot, and sometimes we got stuff that wont even be there for months. and mixing skills dont necessarily count. i've been to clubs where the dj couldnt mix or scratch to save his ass.. and still played a full floor! ya never know.
demo length? multiple tracks on a cd.. or even better dvd with video and audio mixing. my rule of thumb when they tell me to hire or look for someone new that has a demo is to look for someone comfortable with a variety of music, who can make a thousand people happy, rotate the floor, and have good mic presence. (i'm my own worst critic on that - but after getting out of radio... i hate microphones) roughly 30-60 minutes for a demo with split tracks should do it.
and you can record the demo's with dj promo drops so they cant use it when you're not there.
differences between texas and cali? sometimes its the land that time forgot, and sometimes we got stuff that wont even be there for months. and mixing skills dont necessarily count. i've been to clubs where the dj couldnt mix or scratch to save his ass.. and still played a full floor! ya never know.
demo length? multiple tracks on a cd.. or even better dvd with video and audio mixing. my rule of thumb when they tell me to hire or look for someone new that has a demo is to look for someone comfortable with a variety of music, who can make a thousand people happy, rotate the floor, and have good mic presence. (i'm my own worst critic on that - but after getting out of radio... i hate microphones) roughly 30-60 minutes for a demo with split tracks should do it.
and you can record the demo's with dj promo drops so they cant use it when you're not there.
geposted Tue 06 Mar 07 @ 8:44 am
DME-CEO
do your research, the venue of course will depend on the music demo that you should make, but keep in mind that if you have the "latest/hottest" music that no one's ever heard it's just that, music that NO ONE has heard and I point this out to spare you some greef hopefully, a lot of the time you "HAVE" to spin the music that the "average" person knows (including the club promoters/managers) have heard & they are familiar with. as for submitting a demo you can "strategically" "drop" a few new traxx in the mix here and there. as DJ's "we" all want to be the first to break new music but unfortunately unless the venue is strickly geared to playing "non-rotated radio traxx" then you'll have to deal with that demon as well, the key to that is the way you "build" your mixxes/sets which you should also do in your demo. 45-60 mins. max for the demo and if your worried about someone "jacking" you then I suggest you place drops throughout the mix. just as important is to venture out to see "whos" who in your area and just talk to people, best case scenario is that you talk to some folks and let them know you DJ and they may ask you for a demo or turn you on to someone who may be looking for DJ's. as far as skills go.... i have to laugh because wildcoutryclub said it best, it doesn't matter unfortunately and he's also right in saying you just never know! good luck and keep in mind that for every one DJ that put's blood, sweat and tears into the craft of DJing there are a 1000 bottom feeders out there that just don't get it and never will! so good luck and get out there and network and get those connections..... it's 2007 and we're either networking or notworking..... Aloha
geposted Wed 07 Mar 07 @ 5:40 am