My name is Alex.. my name is Alex.. my name is Alex.. my name is... #$@#$^@$#^()@%^()

Sorry for the weird topic name pathetically derivative of a certain 303 bassline driven 110bp'ish track.

But I'm just getting into Djing after a long stint (well ongoing really) attempt at production, electronic performance, etc.

It seems that being whatever you set you're mind to is not quite as straight-forward as my 2cd grade teacher told me it was.

So I'm looking to throttle that residual creative fuel into djing as, not to offend, but it seems much, much more readily accessible.

I've got a pretty decent traktor setup and I'm beginning to know how to use it. IF I were to want to get out of the house and get some decent fun paying gigs, what would any of you seasoned gigging dj's recommend? Which type of records should I spin to get the best gigs the quickest? Is edm to much of a niche thing? I was thinking about just getting a collection of top 40, some house, some dubstep, some hip hop and just coming up with a creative 1-2 hour long set? If I did that and had that ready to go, is that something I'd be able to find even modest gigs with?

basically i'm just looking fo advice.. thanks

If you set your mind to it you can do whatever you please.

I don't understand why you'd want to play music you don't have a passion for, but yeah, if you're going to get into it just try and enjoy the scenery, it's usually pretty good.

Country/dubstep is blowing up right now. Spin that, and you should have gigs in a month.

how about finding what you like...spin that...get good at it...then look for gigs?

carriage horse something something...

It's not going to a quick ride into a club if you want to be good at it. Just like producing, djing is a never ending learning experience. It may take you 6 to 18 months of HARD work to get to the point where you can play out. Not only that you need the love for the music you are playing. You shouldn't be asking us what genre you should be playing. That should be your first step. Second step is practice for the next couple of months. Keep your track collection up to date. And then practice some more. When you can mix well for a couple of hours then you will be ready to play at a paying gig.

Shane says its hard, I say its easy. Download the top40 off of MTV, load track A, press play, beatmatch track B, press play. So simple yo! Rinse and repeat.

who beatmatches when you have sync?

Sounds like you are getting into DJing for all the wrong reasons. You just want to be cool? or do you actually have enough of a passion for playing music that you are willing to put some effort in to it? The WORST dj possible has nothing to do with their beatmatching skills (any fool can mix 2 songs together), the worst is someone who looks bored in the booth! You need passion to be good at it!

^^ I agree.

Find your own style & genre and don't do it for money.

Do it for the love of music and bringing joy to peoples ears, and make sure you bring something different to the stage.

Like skateboarders they skate all day long for FUN and one day they end up pro just for the sake of skating they love to skate. They don't just buy all the expensive gear and then want to sign up for x-games at the beginning.

Check out what paris hilton is doing. You can learn a few things from her. She just started out as well....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytnujFxBotw

What are you producing? Might be a direction to follow.

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Originally Posted by teambama

Check out what paris hilton is doing. You can learn a few things from her. She just started out as well....

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The best post I've ever read... +1000000

And OP, play music you enjoy, not what other people specifically enjoy. Because at the end of the day, it's about the passion and love for music. Not about money or huge club gigs. Once you realize that, then, you will be on your way to becoming a DJ.

And by the way, what are the "best" gigs?
My best gigs have been when I was able to truly connect with my audience by playing muisc that not only I enjoyed, but they enjoyed AS WELL. DJing for me and most DJs has always been about one thing, a love for music. Not playing Justin bieber to fit in and and get gigs at the coolest clubs. Those moments when you are able to connect with your audience on a deeper level, and truly enjoy the moment and the music you love, are the things that define a gig as the best.

just my 2 cents.

Cant be said any better. Follow your dreams man. Don't follow trends.

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Originally Posted by hola amigos

Cant be said any better. Follow your dreams man. Don't follow trends.

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exactly.

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Originally Posted by dripstep

Country/dubstep is blowing up right now. Spin that, and you should have gigs in a month.

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Cuntstep?

no offense but a lot of you guys responded in a dick way.

most likely I would guess that those who did are the ones who have little to no musical talent.


keep it friendly guys ;)

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Originally Posted by phloston

no offense but a lot of you guys responded in a dick way.

most likely I would guess that those who did are the ones who have little to no musical talent.


keep it friendly guys ;)

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no offense...it's gotten alot more dick than that. Wait till you post your first 12 minute mini mix. Jason will eat you for lunch.

wasn't planning any mini mixes in the short term but i'll look out for this ominously named foe called "Jason" in the event that I do

FO SHO

hockey mask + hatchet

Quote:

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Originally Posted by phloston

no offense but a lot of you guys responded in a dick way.

most likely I would guess that those who did are the ones who have little to no musical talent.


keep it friendly guys ;)

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i just lol'd hard...welcome to the internet

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Originally Posted by keithace

no offense...it's gotten alot more dick than that. Wait till you post your first 12 minute mini mix. Jason will eat you for lunch.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by phloston

wasn't planning any mini mixes in the short term but i'll look out for this ominously named foe called "Jason" in the event that I do

FO SHO

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imma link him this thread on skype for lawls

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Originally Posted by keithace

Jason will eat you for lunch.

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What just happened?

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Originally Posted by JasonBay

What just happened?

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jason your a mean heartless person apparently...
you seem warm and fuzzy to me

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Originally Posted by seitz

jason your a mean heartless person apparently...

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Only until you get to know me
;)

Jason, hope you are hungry. Might be a mini mix comin up.

OP, we are just taking the piss. That's kind what happens when any of these show up in a post:

How to I become the next big DJ
I wanna get the best gigs
What should I play
Anything with the word sync
What should I buy

This is a friendly place, and most of the "dickish" comments are all in good fun. No offense intended bro. But you should play some countstep.

seems dj5dollaholla isn't around anymore.

for all those who missed this famous movie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...v=GxYsM3cSkeI#!

i'm not sure what else i can add here, but i don't think djing is any more accessible than producing. it just depends on what you are more suited for and more interested in. since i got ableton and maschine producing has gotten way more accessible for me personally, although i have a lot to work on for sure and it's not an easy road by any means.

djing is a long difficult path as well. you have to find your voice just like with productions. you have to spend an infinite amount of time finding tracks, keying tracks, tagging tracks, sorting tracks, editing tracks, gridding tracks, and practicing to become consistently good. maybe it's just me since i have music of every genre to deal with and i will never be able to play only one type of music for the long haul. i may go through a faze where i only spin house, but i need other styles to keep me happy and balanced. also, i have a bad memory so that doesn't help.

if i were you i would make sure you tag, organize, and prep your tracks as you get them, since going back and sorting through an entire library is very time consuming. try to come up with a good workflow before you start and you will save yourself some time and headaches for sure. i am learning that the hard way, but i just have to power through it.

You should figure that out on your own, according to what's hot in your city, instead of coming on a forum with members from all over the globe asking them what kind of genre you should play.

Around here (Toronto), the EDM is dead (or dying) if you ask me. Very few venues cater to those events, and the guys that DJ at them are part of a boys club that started long ago...So if you didn't get in on the ground floor, you have little to no chance now. Even the attendees are always the same, as they're also part of that boys club.

The trendy thing here is the hipster douche-y, old school soul, funk, motown etc played on vinyl. Personally I can't stand that stuff and would rather DJ at weddings.

Kind of sad to hear that about TO. When I was living there (Mid-late 2007) the scene was strong and thriving, and now with all the big names and labels coming out of TO I thought it would have even been better than when I was there.

*delete*

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Originally Posted by JasonBay

Kind of sad to hear that about TO. When I was living there (Mid-late 2007) the scene was strong and thriving, and now with all the big names and labels coming out of TO I thought it would have even been better than when I was there.

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Where do you live now? I remember back in 1999-2000 the rave scene here was so trendy I would bump into people from my old church telling me about how it was their first time. Then people started dying at parties and it all came to a crashing halt but it lasted until 2005-2006. I remember you could find at least 1 house night every night of the week, even on a Monday, or Tuesday, and there were multiple venues you could go to, large and small...Now you're lucky to even find a place that only plays house that isn't sketchy as hell.

Although there's one promoter that I've been following for 14 years now and they never disappoint.

I live in Milwaukee and spend as much time as I can in Chicago (going there tomorrow night even). The big spots when I was there was Guvernment (not the best for underground, but the smaller rooms always seemed to have good grooves going), Footworks (probably one of my fav spots to be at) and Circa just opened a little before I left.

Speaking of sketchy, gotta love Comfort Zone! :p

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Originally Posted by JasonBay

I live in Milwaukee and spend as much time as I can in Chicago (going there tomorrow night even). The big spots when I was there was Guvernment (not the best for underground, but the smaller rooms always seemed to have good grooves going), Footworks (probably one of my fav spots to be at) and Circa just opened a little before I left.

Speaking of sketchy, gotta love Comfort Zone! :p

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IMO The Guvernment is an impressive club, both sound wise and visually. Except that it's such an aggressive and angry place.

Circa lol...There was an article about how that building was cursed, because all of the businesses in that space never lasted. I think it's going to turn into a Target store lol. I love Chicago. Great city. Didn't really get to party there, although I went to Crobar just because I had to. It was alright but I'm not much of a partier anymore.

Speaking of Comfort Zone, I use it to segue into any discussion about sketchiness. Sketchy you say? Have you ever been to the comfort zone? No? Well you should! It'll increase your appreciation for virtually EVERYWHERE else.

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Originally Posted by hola amigos

Cant be said any better. Follow your dreams man. Don't follow trends.

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Following your dreams is a great fantasy, but it doesn't pay the bills...

Yeah, was sad to hear it got closed down. Just bit off more than it could chew. And I know what you mean about Guv, that's like amateur hour for clubbers!

And Crobar was a joke of a club, if you're ever out there again be sure to check out Smart Bar (Proper underground club) or Spybar ("trendy" underground music).

Is Footwork still going strong?

Wish I could use your Comfort Zone remark, unfortunately no one would have a clue what I'm talking about!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JasonBay

Yeah, was sad to hear it got closed down. Just bit off more than it could chew. And I know what you mean about Guv, that's like amateur hour for clubbers!

And Crobar was a joke of a club, if you're ever out there again be sure to check out Smart Bar (Proper underground club) or Spybar ("trendy" underground music).

Is Footwork still going strong?

Wish I could use your Comfort Zone remark, unfortunately no one would have a clue what I'm talking about!

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Footwork is still around and probably the only place you can go for a real "club" that plays EDM and isn't The Guvernment. Every other "venue" is much smaller, and much more intimate housing less than 100 people and isn't really for dancing.

Actually I used to spin at System Soundbar which was the previous home to the guys that started Footwork.

Not sure about Smart Bar, but my last night in Chicago I went to a place with pretty good tunes, except the place was empty because it was a Wednesday night. It was in the Polish area...Although this was 7 years ago.

*Edit* if you're ever back in Toronto, check out a party by these guys http://www.milkaudio.com/. They've been around a long time, and do some intimate events and larger outdoor parties in the summer. It's mostly Deep House, but they always have a very cool and very repectful vibe and atmosphere. And it's still underground in the sense that they don't advertise or put posters up. I saw Miguel Migs at one of their last events and it was the last time I danced my ass off.

i will back you boys up on the sketchyness of the comfort zone. That place scared me most nights lol. I was going to the clubs in TO in 2005-2007, and it was booming EDM. The funhouse, apothecary, the whole Guv, even walked from the skydome up to the univerity to find a little hole-in-the-wall bar that had a jungle night going on. Good times in Toronto.

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Originally Posted by tokenasianguy

Footwork is still around and probably the only place you can go for a real "club" that plays EDM and isn't The Guvernment. Every other "venue" is much smaller, and much more intimate housing less than 100 people and isn't really for dancing.

Actually I used to spin at System Soundbar which was the previous home to the guys that started Footwork.

.

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Isnt it Wrongbar now or do my eyes lie?

Maison Mercer plays pretty decent house but it caters to a more mature crowd.

Went to footwerks for the first time last week, had to drag friends, but I can see why its been around for awhile. I think it might be owned by INK entertainment which owns the Guv complex and This Is London and i guess they just hosted the VELD festival (total pile of shit)

I thought Cube was kinda cool too. nice atmosphere.