How did you get your first gig?

[firestar]

HMM? Did you know someone who knew someone who knew... you know what I mean, or did you pound the pavement with demos? Have someone contact you?

Reason I ask is because I used to spin around van, but it was spinning hiphop.. now I'm looking to get a slot somewhere again, but now i'm spinning drum n bass and breaks.. do clubs even take demos anymore? Or do you have to know someone? Really looking to get back into playing shows, and I've just moved downtown a couple weeks ago which makes things SOO much easier..

[Evolve]

It helps if you become friends with the promoters. That's how many DJs get booked with us, Twisted, Unconscious, Solid, etc etc. No one is just going to book you because you are a DJ. No offense, but DJs are dime a dozen now-a-days.

You gotta bring more to the table than just the ability to throw down and spin tracks.

I know in the case of the Unconscious bros, they like to book DJs who actually help sell tickets to their event. But then again, what promoter doesn't like that?

[firestar]

Originally Posted by Evolve

It helps if you become friends with the promoters. That's how many DJs get booked with us, Twisted, Unconscious, Solid, etc etc. No one is just going to book you because you are a DJ. No offense, but DJs are dime a dozen now-a-days.

You gotta bring more to the table than just the ability to throw down and spin tracks.

I know in the case of the Unconscious bros, they like to book DJs who actually help sell tickets to their event. But then again, what promoter doesn't like that?

Hm, so you pretty much gotta know somebody now? What are promotors looking for then, I have some pretty dope mixing still and can conrol the crowd, have a wicked track selection.. I don't know what else you're looking for.. a gimmic?

[dabbler]

knowing people is most important. so is supporting the scene you are in. i got bookings because i was at every show, and talked to everyone. socializing is KEY to being a DJ. demo's should go to everyone, not just promoters (don't bother handing demo's to clubs) more often than not, it'll will be a friend of a promoter that will tell the person they should book you. promoters need to know someone else is feeling it already before they will bother.
when it comes to DnB, all you gotta do is support the scene, and it supports you back. if you just show up once a month, and expect to get tons of bookings, it won't happen. internet promotion is key too, post mixes (WITH tracklistings) and that will help.

[firestar]

Originally Posted by dabbler

knowing people is most important. so is supporting the scene you are in. i got bookings because i was at every show, and talked to everyone. socializing is KEY to being a DJ. demo's should go to everyone, not just promoters (don't bother handing demo's to clubs) more often than not, it'll will be a friend of a promoter that will tell the person they should book you. promoters need to know someone else is feeling it already before they will bother.
when it comes to DnB, all you gotta do is support the scene, and it supports you back. if you just show up once a month, and expect to get tons of bookings, it won't happen. internet promotion is key too, post mixes (WITH tracklistings) and that will help.

I haven't gotten a gig in a long time (as you can probably tell, heh) and never with this scene (it's a bit different w/hiphop) anyways, I appreciate your honesty. Living out in the burbs made it tough for me to get out to shows every week, but now that i've moved down here I can really start involving myself in the scene again. I've already posted a couple mixes on here (w/tracklistings, haha), but I just added some new toys to my shit, so some new mixes'll be coming soon.

Thanks mang, appreciate it.

[dabbler]

post mixes here too eh?

www.nwdnb.bc.ca

[WYATT]

Originally Posted by dabbler

knowing people is most important. so is supporting the scene you are in. i got bookings because i was at every show, and talked to everyone. socializing is KEY to being a DJ. demo's should go to everyone, not just promoters (don't bother handing demo's to clubs) more often than not, it'll will be a friend of a promoter that will tell the person they should book you. promoters need to know someone else is feeling it already before they will bother.
when it comes to DnB, all you gotta do is support the scene, and it supports you back. if you just show up once a month, and expect to get tons of bookings, it won't happen. internet promotion is key too, post mixes (WITH tracklistings) and that will help.

Everything u need to do right here^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

[Lenny]

With the cost of staying on top of records I'm surprised any DJ can make it out more than a few times a month to support their scene! Heh I feel sorry for any multi genre DJ's trying to make it out there :P

I have to agree, you definitely have to have the personality for it or prepare yourself for a lot of frustration when it comes to getting gigs.

ps. my first gig came from getting demos out there. the internet has always been a helpful low cost tool but meeting people and getting your face out there is just as important.

[CharlieTuna]

I passed out hundreds of demos to everyone at parties, not just promoters and other dj's. Eventually someone passed one of my cd's onto a promoter and I got booked for my first gig.

[dangamouse]

Originally Posted by dabbler

knowing people is most important. so is supporting the scene you are in. i got bookings because i was at every show, and talked to everyone. socializing is KEY to being a DJ. demo's should go to everyone, not just promoters (don't bother handing demo's to clubs) more often than not, it'll will be a friend of a promoter that will tell the person they should book you. promoters need to know someone else is feeling it already before they will bother.
when it comes to DnB, all you gotta do is support the scene, and it supports you back. if you just show up once a month, and expect to get tons of bookings, it won't happen. internet promotion is key too, post mixes (WITH tracklistings) and that will help.

^^^^what he said

but remember not to cross the line between promoting yourself and whoreing yourself, dont piss off promoters by buging them.




or






Start puting on your own events :)

[cinist]

lend out your dj equipment

[angst]

1) Networking - demos, demos and more demos; supporting the scene (ie: chatting it up with heads and promoters)
2) Bring something to the table - Promoters don't wanna book an up-in-comer who just plays the same shit as everyone else, so do your best to be different.
3) Attitude - No one likes an egomaniac, so be humble and show respect.

On a personal note, I got my first gig by handing our demos, supporting the scene, playing music I was into and had a passion for (not necessarily what was popular at the time) and having a positive attitude (btw, I played breaks back then).

Hope this helps - good luck

[(val)Liam]

my first gig was made through the internet... earthdance 2002 playing ambient... all I did was ask... didn't even expect a call back...

but I have a feeling the ambient scene is way different...

[dj_soo]

what everyone else said.

Especially for dnb, the scene here is really tight and tends to be pretty friendly. Hit up Automatic, fixed, and whatever special events are happening and schmooze a little. Most of the guys in the scene are really cool people.

Keep your eyes open for open deck nights and all but just remember to maintain a good attitude. No one likes an egomaniac and regardless of how well you spin, if you walk around acting like god's gift to turntables, chances are you're going to turn a lot of promoters off and likely won't get booked.

Heh I feel sorry for any multi genre DJ's trying to make it out there :P

man, you don't want to know how much I spend on records nowadays :-\.

[firestar]

Originally Posted by mofo-x

man, you don't want to know how much I spend on records nowadays :-\.

No kidding, I'm currently working 4 genres into my sets.. but yeah my cd deck saves me lots of money (not that i've stopped spending on vinyl, it's actually pretty digusting how much I spend on music each month still)..

[stimulant j]

PAY your DUES ...

im still doin it these days.

-- after that .. just get drunk as shit and hang around till the end.

u`d be surprised wut that can do for u - (worked 4 me)

[ebbomega]

i've worked three actual gigs so far (not counting house parties and whatnot). Every time it's been because a friend hooked me up. First gig I had was because I had a friend throw a rave and he wanted me to spin. I worked door for about 2 hours that night too. I got rather fucked up and danced around after my set and had a blast.

Last weekend same friend scored me an opening set for a party. Paying dues.

Get used to crap slots early on. when someone newer than you shows up, they can replace you for them, but for now just do your part as best as you can and everybody benefits.

[dj_soo]

I curtain jerked to empty clubs at 9 or 10pm for like 2 years straight before I managed to get my first decent timeslot (with few exceptions)...

I also found that running your own night is simultaneously the easiest way to get booked and one of the hardest due to all the work you put in :).

[Akeel]

i got my start spinning records in ra-house in metrotown back in the day...one day rich ghouse walked in and out of nowhere asked me if i wanted to open for max graham.

(yes i played progressive back then)

*edit*

i just realized that most people won't know who rich G is...he used to throw a lot of the big parties back in the day (summerlove, subconcious, etc)

[dabbler]

Originally Posted by Stimulant J

-- after that .. just get drunk as shit and hang around till the end.

u`d be surprised wut that can do for u - (worked 4 me)

remarkably true, when you are around at the end of the night, chillin with the promoters (often as equally drunk as you, if not more) then they will actually remember you, and when they are thinking of someone to book, it'll be the "let's book that guy that hangs out after" hhaahah

[ffa]

my first official public non-house-party gig was a new year's party me and my friend Mark (DJ Tantra) threw together. From that party, Intimate Productions was born... and to get ourselves more gigs, we started a weekly @ Fiction on Tuesdays, and we then also started Cheeky the same year and the Intimate Productions family grew to include Steve G. , JJ, and more DJs and promoters... I figure if no one is going to give you a gig, just start your own...

BUT having said that, I see so many people using that thinking, but throwing half ass parties/club nights that no one comes to, JUST so that they can play. That is the wrong thing to do... it hurts you (you play to an empty floor) and the scene (too many parties/club nights, none of them going off) So it should be revised to "if no one is giving you a gig, start your own, but don't waste your time if you are going to throw a half ass party where you willl be playing to 10 people on the dance floor" .. go hard or go home :-)

-f.

[ill-esha]

it's totally true. if djing out often is what you want to do.. you have to go out. around the time i started getting all my first gigs, i was out tons.. i started out as a 14-year-old MC and vocalist who would hide behind the speakers because she was so shy in front of people. usually friends of mine would go and ask the promoter if i could sing and because it was something of a novelty they'd say yes.

novelty = gigs

then once i added djing to the mix it was still a novelty... so the equation went novelty + going out all the time = more gigs.

then i started doing well and got really excited and people misinterpreted it as ego/attitude (i was 16/17 for gods sakes!)

the equation at that point was novelty + going out all the time - perceived bad attitude = some gigs, but definitely less, and a lot of bad press.

now i spend most of my time in the studio and i can't afford to go out much, and the newbie "little D&B girl on the decks" torch has been passed to b.traits

so now...

no novelty + occasionally going out + chill attitude + making music = not as much local spots, occasional gigs but good quality ones when i do get them

depends what you want!

submitting demos won't make a difference if you don't get to know people first.. if you want to get playing internationally, start slutting around on myspace/aim and meet promoters and djs from other cities. once you get to know them they will be more inclined to recommend you. i am booking a whole winter tour entirely on references, haven't mailed out a demo in years.

[Moon]

hehe i got my first gig through this site actually. i was really starting to pick up my record collection and i liked to post alot about my progress.. i got booked cuz the promoter felt like i knew my shit. he booked like 2 months in advance so i practiced hard and constantly made an effort to fine tune my skills for that big night.

i managed to get my first club gig though by attending the dnb nights like sunday sessions and automatic every week. if you show that you really wanna spin and support the nights, you'll get gigs.

[dj_soo]

I got my first gig through a co-worker randomly. His band was in one of those "battle of the bands" type things and he was in charge of booking DJs for the 2nd room and the after-show. He basically came up to me and was "he, you're djing now right? you should play." After I tried to convince him that I had only been spinning for like 2 months and I wasn't really ready for a gig yet, he proceeded to book me anyway and stick me in the headlining slot spinning a 2x4 with him.

Got my first club residency just hanging out with the promoter of Edit (Franz!!!) at his house and spinning records for a bit... After I finished playing he offered me the opening spot at his night...