There comes a time in every young DJ's career where he or she begins to outgrow the bedroom and has the skills to mix in front of a crowd. However, having the skills to DJ isn’t the only thing a DJ needs to start being hired for gigs. There is an existential framework that needs to be built to figure out where the gigs are and how to find them. A common problem for younger DJs looking for gigs is that they can’t seem to find any work or the work they find is not what they want. This article will serve as a guide to understand one’s self as a DJ and, hopefully, help DJs start finding those gigs.
The Defining Moment
DJs come in many different styles, musically and technically, which translates into a DJ having a specific sound. This sound is arguably the first thing a DJ should find before seriously looking for gigs. A DJ can begin to define his sound by knowing the music that is being mixed, how it is mixed, and what his mixes sound like to the audience. A DJ who mixes Latin Pop isn’t competing with the R&B and Soul DJ for a gig.
There isn’t an easy way of defining the sound of a DJ because it is a natural progression that comes from experimental mixing, practicing, and absorbing music. If you are a DJ who is having trouble finding your sound, continue to practice daily and try mixing different styles of music. Look into your musical influences and find your roots. By having a sound, you will stick out to promoters in this over saturated market and listeners will have a hook to latch onto during your sets.
Who’s Your Boss?
Another realist question that a DJ might ask is, “Which booth is right for me?” There is a wide variety of DJ markets and understanding what market you want to be a part of will help you find the person who might consider hiring you. There are many different types of markets one can join, such as:
- Clubs
- Raves
- House Parties
- Weddings
- Mobile DJs (School Dances, Events, etc.)
- Radio
...and the list goes on. A DJ looking to break out of the bedroom needs to decide where to mix and start from the bottom within his industry. If it’s a club gig a DJ is after, that DJ should expect to get a foot in the door with promoters and maybe even work in the office before asking for a gig. The promoter won’t hire a DJ without an established resume with other clubs (which is non-existent when starting out) or confidence that the DJ can pull a crowd.
The market I first got into was mobile DJing, which, differs greatly from other types of gigs. In the first quarter of 2010, I started doing small gatherings in my hometown with a $300 loudspeaker package that I bought online, my laptop, and my low-end MIDI controller. Four years down the road, I had my own licensed company and monopolistic control of the rural county that I lived in where my only competitor was a man whose "decks" were two computers running Windows Media Player. I also earned enough revenue to upgrade my rig to contain industry level equipment. It took some time, money, and patience to reach that stage in my career and that same combo is what a DJ needs to be successful when it comes to finding gigs. I haven’t been a mobile DJ for over a year now but I have had success using the same mentality to find gigs at lounges in SF.
Map Out a Team
Whether a DJ is just now breaking out of the bedroom or he holds a residency, networking is vital to sustaining a career. The gigs and opportunities come from meeting people who are willing to help a DJ be successful. Photographers, bloggers, promoters, and even security guards will become important people to have in your circle because they know the industry from a different perspective, thus, seeing things a DJ might not.
The way I like to look at DJing is as a collective effort. The DJ is the center and leads the people around him to grow as an artist. No successful DJ walked the road alone. It is important to find these people and build relationships. In the DJ subreddit, Miss-Solstice sums up the importance of networking in the industry. Even though her advice is tailored toward club DJs, it can be transferred over to other avenues:
"Network - I've found this is one of the more important sides to getting yourself known. Sending a demo is sometimes not enough but get out there to events you're interested in playing at. Greet the promoter, talk about your interest in the night and have general chit chat. Promoters like to see your support for their events and they're more likely to remember you from face to face contact rather than a name on a mix, which they receive several of."
Treat Yourself Like A Business
At the end of it all, a DJ who is looking for a career (whether it be part time or full time) must treat his art as a business. The music is the good being bought and the DJ is the seller which means the DJ needs to find the people willing to buy his goods. Like any business, a DJ needs to have all his ducks aligned in a row before he can go out and start offering his services.
Everything from social media* to legal drafting needs to be addressed. Sure, a DJ isn’t going to need a contract with the club on his first gig but as residencies and partnerships come into the realm of possibilities it would be better to be prepared than to be blindsided (and potentially screwed over).
The DJ market is heavily saturated due to the low barriers to enter the game however dedicated DJs still have a voice that can be heard. If you are looking to have a residency, own a company, or host a show, you need to show it through your work effort. In due time, hard work will pay off and the frat-star DJ with the MIDI controller who got all the gigs in college will fade away. If you love DJing, stay on your grind. As with most aspects of life, there will be highs and lows, but just stick with it and the results will show in the long run.
*For more marketing tips, check out Gregg’s awesome article on social media for DJs.
Dean William can be found gallivanting about the clubs of San Francisco. He's on Twitter: @deanithon.