[Dynagroove] advice for up and coming djs...

[jose at aagfx.com]

"I was a fierce bedroom jock for a long time. After you mix for the  
love of it for six or seven years, you get it pretty tight and you  
can take it on the road."

-Derrick Carter

(I agree with this 100%...pay your dues, work hard and things will  
work out for you)



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Message: 3
Date: Mon, 5 Feb 2007 12:45:49 -0800 (PST)
From: Cade <con at dynagroove.com>
Subject: [Dynagroove] Funny old dynagroove post / article
To: dynagroove at dynagroove.com
Message-ID: <Pine.LNX.4.62.0702051243410.23693 at yerba.dreamhost.com>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

There was a post n the unbderground house forum that reminded me of this
article I wrote way back in the day.  I think it is funny not only  
because
it talks about tapes but also because so much of it is true still today.
Some of you may remember this from 4 or 5 years ago.  But I think  
some new
Dynagroove listers might still get a kick out of this...


                                   Playing Out



"I don't want to be a DJ, I just want to see how a crowd reacts to my
music."  Yeah right! Who are you kidding?  You want to play out.  You  
want
to step behind the decks, look over the throbbing mob and watch them
sweating and bobbing to the beat.  In this daydream of yours it is 2:30
A.M. (peak hour), it is your time to shine.  Track after track, you work
the crowd into a frenzy.  For three hours, not a single body leaves the
dance floor. Your records entrance everyone.  You have broken  
through. You
now have a name and recognition!


        Well, it is a nice dream but the problem is it is highly  
unlikely
that it will happen anytime soon.  Why?  Because you are an aspiring DJ!
You've been playing for maybe two years, dubbed and burned hundreds of
your
first decent mix, and made sure you have given a copy to everyone you  
know
who has any remote association with coordinating events.  But still
nothing
has come about it other than a few opening slots at a coffee shop.   
Maybe
you got to play your friend's Internet broadcast a few times? A friend's
birthday party? Or even better, a BBQ!  But no matter what you do, you
can't seem to get booked at a production-sized party.


        Playing out is not an easy thing to do.  Yes, there are  
politics.
Yes, there is ego. And yes, there is a chance that you may not be  
ready to
play out yet.  After working some years in the scene successfully, I may
have some good advice to offer.  My qualifications:


I have been in the scene for over 10 years.  I am involved with or throw
at
least 5 parties a year.  I also host a weekly club night in Los Angeles
widely known as "Free thinking."  These events range from 100 people to
800+.   I DJ a few one off's and clubs a month.  But first and  
foremost, I
am a dancer.  As I write this article, I am coming to you as a
Promoter/DJ/Dancer.  I am not a professional at any of these and I am  
far
from "the best" at any of them.  But I would like to think I am well
rounded and can offer some solid advice.  I have a few different
strategies
that worked for me in as I paved my path through the "House" scene.  I
suppose a lot of it may work in other genres of music too.   
Regardless, it
may give you some insight on how things work in regards to pursuing your
DJ
status.


Tape or CD?:  The first thing a DJ needs is a demo.  I am not talking
about
that tape you duped hundreds of times and passed out all over the place.
This mix HAS to be mastered and HAS to be cleaner then Mr. Clean's
baldhead.  You can't have one off mix. You are unknown and seeking to  
get
some attention.  There is no room for error because you are on the
"proving
grounds".  I know how hard it can be to get that 70-minute flawless mix,
but it makes all the difference.  I get handed at least three tapes  
or CDs
a week and believe me, a lot of them have some pretty bad "train- 
wrecks".
If you even have one noticeable "off" mix, a listener may throw you into
the same bin as the rest of "those" DJs. (see paragraph below)


        As a promoter, I get a lot of demos. I cannot stress how many of
those demos have the same five to seven tracks on them.  When you create
your demo, take the time to dig out some "b-sides" maybe dig a little
deeper into your crates and find some stuff that isn't the latest "hit."
Originality is very important, you don't want to sound like another  
one of
"those" (as stated above) DJs.  For example, one night on my way to my
club, I was listening to a demo that had had a pretty popular track  
on it.
At the club the opening DJ plays the same track again shortly after, the
headliner plays it.  I then pack up and go home and pop into my  
stereo the
newest demo handed to me that night.  The first track was that same  
track
I
had heard three times earlier that night!  I thought to myself, "Man,  
this
!@#$% track again!?"  Not that it was any fault of the DJ, because the
track was a good one.  Keep in mind, promoters get a lot of demos and  
many
have the same taste.  Take the time to try to be a little more unique  
with
your demo.  When I get a demo that is more unique with it's track
selection, it tends to keep my attention longer.


        DON'T ROCK THE CROWD! "What?," you say.  I'll say it again.   
DON"T
rock the crowd!  You are not playing to a group of dancers on this demo.
75% of the demos I get is some DJ getting behind the decks and "banging"
away for 70 minutes.  Most of us listen to music in our cars and it  
can be
rather difficult to "bang" away to for very long.  I find the smooth  
more
intelligent mixes tend to stick around longer.  Anyone can put on the
"hits" and "bang" away, proving once again that they are another one of
"those" DJs.  A nice smooth mix will also allow the promoter to hear  
your
programming abilities and skill.  Most of us know the harder we bang the
easier the mix is.  In the end, a promoter wants talent behind the decks
of
his party.  This also helps with another point I will bring up later  
on in
the "Promotions" section (guys, pay attention!).


        I advise CD over tape. I made the mistake of making my last  
demo on
tape and I would say 60% of the people asked if they could get the  
demo on
CD.  Remember, even if it is a CD, it is still best to get it mastered.
(Not your "Radio Shack burn", with the color print out stuck on top
either.)


Attitude:  This is very important.  I cannot stress how many times I  
have
been turned off by a DJ's attitude.  One of the worst things you can  
do to
a promoter is consistently pester them.  I hate hearing things like,  
"When
are you going to book me?" I have been in the position to where I have
wanted to book a DJ had not gotten around to him yet.  But sure enough
every time I saw him, it was, "When are you going to book me, when  
are you
going to book me?"  It got to the point to where it was uncomfortable to
even say "hi" to him.  Promoters have enough pressure to deal with when
throwing an event.  The last thing they want is pressure from a DJ  
who is
trying to muscle their way into their event.  Remember, promoters are
always stressed.  They have venues and money to loose, but most
importantly, severe lack of sleep.  You think you're grumpy when your  
mom
calls at 8:00AM Saturday morning?  Try working full time and throwing
parties.  Grumpy is an understatement.  Whew.  Sorry, had to vent there.
Where were we?  Ahh yes.

    I have also found that DJs who are too aggressive are hard to  
work with.
They will complain about their time slot, who is playing before/after
them,
how much they are getting paid, and even stuff as trivial as where their
name shows up on the flier.  Most promoters got into the party throwing
business for fun and to watch their visions come to reality.  When a DJ
with bad attitude not only makes the event less fun for the promoter but
also ruins his/her vision, do you think that DJ will be returning?   
If you
checked "yes," then know that you are (as stated above) one of "those"
DJs.

        As a DJ, I have had a lot of success by just being very  
cooperative.
If the promoter tells me I am opening, I am cool with it.  It's not the
best slot, but hey, at least I get to play.  I take what they give me  
with
a smile on my face and make the best out of it.  I know for a fact I  
have
been asked back not only because the promoter liked how I played, but  
how
cooperative I was when I worked with them.  A promoter likes a solid DJ
that is easy to work with.  There are lots of solid DJs out there that
scoff at opening or closing a party.  We ALL have to do our time.  I  
have
been playing out for 3 years now and I still get opening slots.  But  
hey,
I
am playing out!  Believe me it is much more fun than griping about not
playing out.


        Competitive attitudes can really damage your chances too.  I  
have
had
DJs tell me "You book "so and so" and I am a better DJ than they  
are!" or
"Why don't you book me? I am better than most of the people you're
booking."


   I am sure I do not need to explain how insulting and  
unprofessional this
behavior is.  If I do have to explain, then you may be (the dreaded) one
of
"those" DJs.  Remember that you are only one of many DJs trying to get
booked by the promoter.  Let the other DJs shoot themselves in the  
foot by
being overly aggressive.  You can take on the "laid back, cool person"
roll
that the promoter will truly appreciate.


Promotions:  If you have the talent and you heed the advice from above,
than this is the final step in getting yourself booked.  Promoting
yourself
is probably the most fun besides actually playing throughout this  
process.
The best way to promote yourself is to be seen.  If there is a  
particular
event that you want to play, make sure you are at it.  Make sure you
introduce yourself to the promoter thank him/her for her work.  Tell  
them
what you think of their party.  Make sure you are sincere though; it  
would
be bad if the promoter senses that you are blowing smoke up their ass.
After a few of these encounters, casually hand over you newest "Mr.  
Clean"
mix and simply say, "If you got time, take a listen and let me know what
you think."  But don't pester the promoter after this (see attitude).
There have been times when people have given me a demo and then harassed
me
about what I thought off it.  I will be honest, about 70% of the demos I
get I am not that into.  It may not be my style, it may be poorly mixed,
or
it may just be played out (see Tape or CD?).  I don't want to be put in
the
position of giving my opinion when it may not be a very nice thing to  
say.
The best thing to do is always be friendly with the promoter and never
mention the demo. If the promoter makes no mention of it he has probably
hasn't listened to it yet or didn't like it.  No sense in asking and
putting the promoter in an uncomfortable position. The solution is  
simple.
Just make a new one and give it to them.  Maybe they will like that one
better or get around to listening to either one.  The passive aggressive
roll tends to let the promoter you're serious without pestering.   
Yes, it
is a slow process, but persistence will pay off.


        It is good to be seen out. Personally I don't like to book  
any DJ
that I don't feel supports me.  If I see a certain DJ at every one of my
events dancing and getting down I will feel a little more connected with
him/her.  I will feel like they appreciate my event and feel the same
about
the music as I do.   What I do not understand DJs that come early to my
event and say, "I would really like to play for you sometime."  They  
hand
me their demo and bio, then leave.  Gee, he would really like to play  
for
me but not support me?! Mark them in the "one of those" DJs category!


        As mentioned in the above Tape/CD area it is good to have a  
smooth
mix.  Why you ask?  Quite simple.  Girls love them!  No I am not talking
about sex.  Well, maybe I am in a more indirect way.  The most  
successful
promotion I had ever done was through the ladies.  I didn't do it on
purpose, but in retrospect, I see what happened.  One of my first mixes
was
a smooth mix that I made for those "afterhour activities."  I ended up
making hundreds of copies of this mix and gave most of them out to  
women.
My first booking came out of this tape.  A promoter was hanging out  
with a
girl while my tape was playing and he thought it was pretty good (not
incredible, mind you).  But two weeks later, he was talking to a couple
other girls and my name came up. As the story goes, the girls could not
stop talking about how much they liked my newer tape.  (None of these
girls
were more the casual acquaintances.)  The next time I saw the  
promoter, he
asked me for more demos. The next thing I knew, I was booked to open his
next three parties.  From those opportunities, I got others.  I think  
men
tend to be a bit more competitive when it comes to DJing.  Giving my  
tape
to women simply because I thought they would appreciate a smooth sensual
mix more so than the men, indirectly put my music into promoter's ears.
Women are the true power behind the scene anyway.  As the story goes it
took all the evil in the world to get Eve to eat that apple but it only
took a woman to get Adam to eat it. Right? *wink* OK.. I know Har Har..
It's tuff to be witty on paper!  Anywayyyyy..


        The best way to promote yourself is quite simply, throw your own
party and play it.  It is, however, very tacky (in my, oh so, humble
opinion) to give yourself a prime slot.  A solution for this is to get
partners and let them insist you play a good slot.   *wink* Getting out
there, passing out fliers, and meeting people will quickly get you some
recognition.  Work hard on your events. Try to pull them off  
consistently
and bookings will quickly follow.  People will book you on talent and
association.  The best thing about playing your own event is being  
able to
pick DJs who will enhance your performance.  (Not to mention, all the  
free
tapes and CDs you get from others.)


        Please know this was written as an opinion, with a smirk on  
my face,
but in seriousness, it covers a lot of points that "up and coming" DJs
should take into consideration.  All of the above was written from
experience. If anyone has more to add please, feel free to email me at
con at reelhouse.net .  Actually, what I need some advice on is playing out
of
town.  I have only been booked out of town about three times.  Any  
advice?


Cade



-------------------
~It is my great accomplishment that you all underestimate me~
http://www.dynagroove.com
http://www.myspace.com/dynacade
cade at dynagroove.com