Emu XL-7 & MP-7 User's Group

Very helpful indeed....

Well that all does apply, but my situation is a bit diefferent. I'm 
wanting to go out on my own music though. I do like to DJ, but I 
prefer to perfrom my own music. My main thing is to be professional, 
I've been around too many bands to know that's a rare thing and 
probably what's holding them back. Very good tips.. Something as 
simple as keeping a few demos and business cards with you can be very 
effective, which oddly I never thought of. 

Im curious about how to approach people, club managers and the like, 
about performing. At first I figure a good place to play is a pub 
type setting that reguarly features local bands then eventually move 
up to more club type settings. How much of a difference is there 
between the two? Like contracts and percentage of the door type 
things? I figure the first thing I need to do is put together a press 
kit, sample CD and various other liteature.

I may be a  bit paranoid, but I want to avoid looking like the beer 
bottle holding "f*&# yea!!" band member and more like a pro. Also, 
great advice again, may I copy it to a DJ bbs that I am on? Thanks!

-Erika


--- In xl7@yahoogroups.com, erik_magrini@B... wrote:
> Sure glad to help!  I'm assuming you want to know things about how 
to get 
> gigs and get your name out there, not how to DJ right?  Here's some 
things 
> I recommend:
> 
> - No matter what, always act professional when you're dealing with 
people 
> in the industry.  Even people at clubs, online and what not, I 
don't know 
> how many times I've been talking to some random person at a club 
only to 
> find out they're also a promoter or something.  Even if someone 
starts 
> talking nonsense you don't agree with, keep your cool and be 
professional. 
>  Promoters don't just want really good DJ's and performers, they 
want 
> level-headed DJ's and performers!  You can be the best Dj out 
there, but 
> if you're a nut case, they won't want to book you regardless 
(unless 
> you're a REALLY entertaining nut case ala Mark EG).
> 
> - Get to know the promoters of the clubs or venues you like the 
most. Your 
> best bet for getting a gig is by the old "it's who you know".  Yeah 
it's 
> sad, but this really is how the industry works, you have to know 
the right 
> people to get anywhere, especially now that DJ's are dime a dozen.  
Find 
> out who's in charge and introduce yourself, tell them you like 
their 
> night, offer to help promote (pass out flyers) etc.  Don't just go 
up and 
> tell them you want to spin :)  This is the #1 best way to get a 
gig.  Show 
> them you don't just want to spin and leave, let them know you like 
the 
> scene and what they are trying to do.  Also I know a lot of 
promoters will 
> be more inclined to book DJ's they know will bring a lot of people 
to the 
> club, so iontriduce tehm to your friends, show them you have pretty 
large 
> following (even just friends), or that you can bring a lot people 
out when 
> you spin.
> 
> - Keep copies of your most recent demo with you everywhere you go.  
I 
> always keep a couple of extra CDs in my car just in case, and it 
has come 
> in handy.  By that same account, it helps to have some simple 
business 
> cards made up with your contact info on them.  Put them in the CD 
cases, 
> and keep some in your pocket if you go out the clubs too.  Nothing 
worse 
> than striking up a conversation with a possible booking only to 
find out 
> neither of you has a pen and the bartender's being a bitch about 
lending 
> you hers. :)
> 
> - Don't put all of the biggest tracks you have on your demo.  
Promoters 
> get tons of demo CDs a week (I used to promote, so I've seen both 
sides of 
> it), and guaranteed most of them will be full of the same 10 big 
tracks. 
> Pick out a set that's unique, something that lets them kow you're 
> different from every other DJ out there.  Throw in a little live XX-
7 
> action and make a point of drawing attention to that on the cover 
of your 
> demo.  The future of DJing isn't about just two decks and mixer....
> 
> - Put track markers in your mix CD.  Nothing worse than wanting to 
skim 
> through a CD demo someone gave you only to find it out it's one 
long song 
> and you have to fast forward forever to get back to where you were 
(chance 
> are they won't).  If you've got the skills, put them all right 
before you 
> start your mixes, that way they can skim through and see how well 
you mix. 
>  The key is to make it as easy as possible for the promoter to know 
what 
> you have to offer.
> 
> - By that same account, I don't recommend sending promoters email 
links to 
> your new 60+MB DJ mix online.  Would you want to wait that long to 
> download a set from someone you don't know?
> 
> - Be realistic.  There's hundreds if not thousands of Djs in ever 
major 
> city now, and many of them are just as good as your local club 
residents. 
> It takes time, and you have to be doing it for the right reasons.  
If 
> you're wanting to get a gig just to make a living from spinning, 
it'll 
> never happen.  Remember more than anything that there's two reasons 
why 
> people become promoters in the first place. 
> 1.  To make money.  Show them you can help them achieve that by 
offering 
> to help promote as I mentioned before, or that you can bring a lot 
of 
> people to the club.
> 2. To give themselves or their friends a place to spin!  Yeah, the 
easiest 
> way to get booked is to book yourself, something my friends and I 
did for 
> years (still do occasionally) in order to be able to play out.  
These are 
> the hardest club nights to get into as a DJ, because their whole 
reason 
> for existance is to give a set amount of people somewhere to spin.  
They 
> don't want to give up timeslots to unkwown people after all the 
hard work 
> they've done trying to keep it going.  See if any of the clubs in 
your 
> area have an off night free for promoters (some of the best Chicago 
clubs 
> nights are on Tuesdays and Thursday right now).  If you do have a 
club 
> night going, offer to trade DJ's with another promoter.  Tell them 
you'll 
> let one of their Djs play at your night if they'll let one of yours 
play 
> on theirs.
> 
> Hope these help, let me know if you've got any questions!  Like I 
said 
> I've been on both sides of it, so I know how it typically really 
works :)
> 
> rEalm
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> I looked at your IUMA page and noticed you DJ..
> 
> I had a question, this is off topic, so feel free to edit..
> 
> but i'm wanting to get started playing gigs and doing some 
promotion. 
> I want to do this for fun, but I want to keep my dealings 
> professional.
> 
> Do you have any tips for osmeone starting off?
> 
> 
> thanks in advance..
> 
> Erika
> 
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