It's hard to get paid in an industry where the business model has completely flipped upside down.....
The Dj industry right now is really messed up.
Here's what happened, the managing of the industry has been left to young, inexperienced and greedy individuals. Shifting the power away from the performer and into the hands of the promoter. Which could very well be some 19 year old kid. The internet has done the deed on two accounts.
1.Illegal downloading of music is rampant, totally draining the pockets of record companies and producers alike.
2.All promotion happens on a digital level, making it very easy for a promoters to make every dj or producer sound like "the next big name".
The next big problem...DRUGS. Now I know drugs have always been a factor in night clubs, but now more than ever. After a while EVERYTHING starts to sound good when you're high. Club-goes have a less discerning ear. Opening the door for sub-par producers and djs to spread their mediocre music. Sub-par djs will always play for free because they are amazed that they can get a gig. And promoters will book them because THEY are amazed that they can pack a house with a free dj!! IT'S A VICIOUS CYCLE.
Also most promoters are drug dealers...but we will leave that for another discussion.
Like I said, the business is wack. Quality underground djs are at the bottom.
I went from playing every single weekend in state and out of state, to slowly tapering off to 2 gigs a month. I will really only play out of state now if I can get a Fri/Sat lined up back to back, otherwise it's just not worth it.
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...I'm stepping off my soapbox now
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