How did you get to play on your first gig?

[Audiophil]

I started organising events before I started DJing so naturally I allready knew party organisers before I've ever even touched a crossfader. One of those friends heard me playing when I was practising and hired me for a new-comer's night in a club. Since I wasn't that bad I was able to play again at a different event from the same crew some weeks later. Since people liked my style I got more offers from different organisers and then it set off nearly by itself...

[djkezzz]

Simply by chance. Was just a word of mouth and me being available when the opportunity struck!

[djfreesoul]

Worked as a bartender in a local bar. One night the DJ was sick (or he had a date, or was drunk, or didn't care), he called too late to get another DJ, so the owner asked if I could play since he liked my music taste. I had not time to go home for my records, but played the 20 records that where in the booth. It sort of worked.

[the_bastet]

First party gig: Friend was having a party at his farm, heard I had some turntables and invited me to play
First paid gig: Drum N Bass show at Clockwork's Milk Bar in Cincinnati.
First Club Gig: Drai's Las Vegas (When it was in Bills) 2010

[Kwal]

I got to spin at a lot of rather big name clubs in Chicago because one of my best friends was already an established DJ in the city.. So he would have a night, and he would tell me to bring my USB so I could throw some tracks with him... So I did that for a bit until I got the hang of it. Once I did that, I started to mingle with people in the scene who run parties and have the power to book DJs, so I started getting gigs here and there. It's still a growing process of course, I'm not one who plays out 3 times a week..... yet

[keithace]

Did a bunch of house parties, name got around, did coke with a club owner, boom!...this was 1997...

[tt92]

I literally DJed a lot of college parties for free. Gave me a lot of experience

[Whymez]

I got to do my first gig at a house party thanks to a mate whose currently booked DJ had to cancel. The party itself could not of gone better and I'm now doing that kind of thing as a part time just to get a nice bit of cash here and there.

[LPHONIK]

first mix i ever uploaded to soundcloud.....a friend posted it on facebook.... a day later i got a msg from a well known DJ in my city who ran a weekly, and asked if i wanted a guest spot. smashed my set and that was that ... never saw it coming!

[Jester]

Handing out 30 min mixes on cd at local bars, also, we were fucking awesome.