What to do next

Hey there,

Looking for some advice from y'all

I started DJing 4 months ago at a local bar. They are fully staffed on DJs, but I know the owner, and took on the job that nobody else wanted: DJing the football games on Sunday afternoons. Very interactive, rock/dance music during commercials, sound effects during the game, banter, lights, etc. I LOVE it and have gotten really good reviews from the owner, bartenders and customers! However, football season is almost over, and soon so will be my DJ gig ... I will continue to be a fill-in DJ at the bar in case someone is sick or on vacation though.

So my question is, with 4 months experience, what can I do? I really like DJing and would like to continue. I have my own music and PA gear and can pretty easily buy a mixer and CD players, so that's not the issue. Just not sure where to start ... any advice would be appreciated!!

Thanks.

a good start, DJs are notoriously undependable, a job should open up soon. Stay available, get business cards done up,(free ones at www.vistaprint.com) , and do some free gigs for friends, get your name out there. Maybe do a few weddings.??? What ever comes up, do it if you can. You sound hungry, employers like that. Have you tried the radio stations in the area? Good luck, you will soon be horribly underpaid and overworked, and lovin' it!

I would ask to see if they would take you on a more permanent basis

Be assertive!

Hi,

Unfortunately, regular DJing at the place that I have been doing the football games is out of the question. They are fully staffed by DJs who have been working there for a LONG time - in one case, 6 years! Unless I kidnap, bound and gag them, those DJs aren't going anywhere

I don't have friends that throw gatherings big enough to warrant a DJ: we are talking the glass-of-Merlot-and-a-low-fat-Triscuit crowd here.

Weddings sound interesting, but wouldn't they want someone with more experience?

What I'd LIKE to do is to find a bar or a small club that could use somebody. Is the best way to do that to call them directly or to work with a DJ company? From what you know, would a DJ company be interested in working with someone with 4 months' experience?

Thanks!

That all depends on you and your library. At weddings the important thing to realize is that it is THEIR SPECIAL DAY! If you can help them get what they want, you will be a hero, and soon you will be sought after. If you go in and screw it up, and BE THE STAR, you will be hated and sought after(but not in a good way). If you get a chance, go to a few weddings, see what the deal is, figure out what you liked and disliked yourself, that is a good way to start. Check out a few wedding planners in town, they KNOW WHAT THEY WANT YOU TO DO and are always looking for cooperative DJs to do it their way.

I guess you could work for somebody else, but you'll be doing most of the work, and getting very little money, and if you do something right, they will get the credit, but if you screw it up, only you will share in the credit. Believe it or not, there are entire sites, devoted to weddings and planning one. This might be a good place to check out too!

Good luck, get busy!

what you need to do first is record a mix CD

send a copy to every bar/club you can afford to- (works out at$1.50/$2.00 per bar

then get on the phone to some agencys -look em up in yellow pages

get a few friends to ring round and find out who mans the phones

whoes in charge -where they are going for luunch

recepyionists are the easiest.

call up

chat - ask a few questions under the guise that you were fed up with your last booking agent

ask who they already have on the books

seem interested but never say "wow" or anything like that

tell her its been nice chatting and thank her for her time

just before you ring off

go

"Oh I almost forgot, im playing a gig at (xxxxxxxxxxxx) do you fancy coming down - bring some friends if you like - I'll put you on the list"

do this with all the agencys

hire A club for the end of an evening

then marvoll at how when you finish your set, you've got six agencys all waging their checkbooks at you.

only question is, are you a good DJ???