DJing in a Club
Any DJ will know when that special moment in his career arrives: they finally nail down his very first club gig. This is it. The moment where the DJ will be playing for possibly hundreds and he can finally show the world the skills that are debuting beyond the bedroom. However, DJing in a club is a lot different than DJing a house party or practicing in a bedroom. There are some rules to be followed to ensure that a DJ will actually be welcomed back to the club that they are playing.
The Mentality
Once the gig is booked, you should recognize that the club owner has essentially granted a wish every DJ has, starting out. The owner is letting you DJ in his club which means that you are, more or less, the epicenter of the club. The music played and the way you play can either get the club popping or kill the business for the night. That is a lot of trust to put into one person. Therefore, a club etiquette is in place to help a DJ understand what they should and should not do. After all, a DJ is a guest in the club and so it is important to be respectful. You need to respect the house rules. One the biggest ways a DJ can piss off a club owner and kill the chance to come back is by not trusting the levels of the mixer.
The DJ and the Sound Engineer
Most clubs will have a sound engineer who maintains the club’s audio system throughout the entire night. Some clubs are very simple and set a limiter on the whole system. So the more the DJ turns up their mixer, the more the limiter will squash the sound. Then some clubs have an engineer constantly watching the levels to make sure the audio from the DJ’s “epic” set doesn’t destroy thousands of dollars’ worth of equipment. The relationship between the sound engineer and the DJ is an important one. As the DJ, it is important to understand that sound engineers usually have years of experience behind the control mixer. Even though the club may not sound right to you in your DJ booth, chances are it is just fine and the sound engineer is making sure of that.
Trust the Mixer
Every club is different however I run into this instance the most often. I will walk into a club an hour or two before my gig and we will do a sound check. During the sound check, I will play a clean track for the sound engineer. This is usually a simple house intro with a kick drums and hi hats. Then the engineer will fiddle with his system and my mixer. Finally, he will tell me that the master level limit is a certain dB and that I am not allowed to go past that. If he has a limiter, I can go past it and not blow the system BUT the sound will be distorted and even inebriated people will notice. If I go past that level and the club system doesn’t have a limiter, well, I am in big trouble.
The point is to trust the levels of your mixer! Stay out of the red and try not to turn your monitors up so high to the point where you are deaf. Over time a constant sound will appear quiet so turning up the volume will only make the chance of developing tinnitus higher. Trust the sound engineer and the levels of the mixer. They will never lie to you.
Bonus Tip: Gear
Depending on the club, each one will have a different procedure when it comes to a DJ bringing his own gear. I have been in clubs where a DJ is expected to bring the gear and there is no in house system (Not the best club). I have also been in clubs where I had no choice but to use the Pioneer set-up in the booth. My rule of thumb with club gigs is to always ask the owner what gear is available and if they recommend that I bring my own gear. Some club owners are really open to it while others scoff at the fact I would ask such a question. What this means is two important things:
- Ask what gear is available and if there is room for your gear. Be specific to your size needs and be reasonable.
- Know how to use CDJs because there will inevitably be a time when you will have to command the Pioneer ship in the booth.
Never attempt to unplug the club system and put your gear up instead. This is the equivalent of borrowing a friend’s car and having it reupholstered.
Now, a first time club gig might mean it is also your first time also using CDJs. Then I recommend finding a pair to practice on from a friend or even asking the club promoter if you can come in early to practice. Usually the club starts set-up in the late afternoon so they might be willing to let you try the system out even if you are only mixing in your headphones. This was what I did at my first club gig.
Club gigs are fun and can be a very experimental place to really hone in on your DJ skills. Understand that you are a guest and that you should be respectful towards your host. Mind your manners, watch your levels, and you are sure to get another gig. Who knows, maybe one day you will have your own residency.
Dean William can be found gallivanting about the clubs of San Francisco. He's on Twitter: @deanithon.