Auditions for residency? HOW, WHEN, WHERE.

[backtothefront]

Every gig and residency (which is a decent amount) I've ever got has come from knowing the right people....

Sad truth.

Same for me. Wish it wasn't that way.

Yep, mirrors my experience in the UK. Although two residencies I had were from setting up a mid week night, but this was only after much charming of the club owner. Have to say one of the best ways I found was immersing myself in the city's club culture (the underground, dance music type, not top40 cheese-fests!) and most importantly frequenting the record shops, I met most of the key people that way, but sadly this isn't so easy due to the demise of vinyl emporiums.

Also bit of advice when starting out, don't be an arse, be confident and friendly, acting the 'big I am' does not go down well until you've proven yourself (even then it's not a nice trait). Have confidence of your ability to play out, keep it simple and be prepared to adapt to any problems on the night. Also listen to other local DJ's/promoters, you'd be amazed what you can learn and pick up info on possible gigs.

Oops, forgot to add, production is definitely a good way in also.

OP, just checked out a couple of your mixes, do you have longer promo mixes of around an hour long?

On a general point regarding something I've noticed in the last couple of years is the proliferation of 10-15 mins long mixes being uploaded, they don't really allow the listener to properly gauge ability IMO. Quick fire mini mixes are fun and can sound technically great, but in a club situation (referring to house music here) playing a track every couple of minutes over several hours will really grate on the clubbers. Producers of tracks have spent hours making the track the way it sounds for a reason, a little tinkering, fx and track layering is good to add a twist but when overdone it's really annoying I find.

[JayQuil]

Yep, mirrors my experience in the UK. Although two residencies I had were from setting up a mid week night, but this was only after much charming of the club owner. Have to say one of the best ways I found was immersing myself in the city's club culture (the underground, dance music type, not top40 cheese-fests!) and most importantly frequenting the record shops, I met most of the key people that way, but sadly this isn't so easy due to the demise of vinyl emporiums.

Also bit of advice when starting out, don't be an arse, be confident and friendly, acting the 'big I am' does not go down well until you've proven yourself (even then it's not a nice trait). Have confidence of your ability to play out, keep it simple and be prepared to adapt to any problems on the night. Also listen to other local DJ's/promoters, you'd be amazed what you can learn and pick up info on possible gigs.

Oops, forgot to add, production is definitely a good way in also.

OP, just checked out a couple of your mixes, do you have longer promo mixes of around an hour long?

On a general point regarding something I've noticed in the last couple of years is the proliferation of 10-15 mins long mixes being uploaded, they don't really allow the listener to properly gauge ability IMO. Quick fire mini mixes are fun and can sound technically great, but in a club situation (referring to house music here) playing a track every couple of minutes over several hours will really grate on the clubbers. Producers of tracks have spent hours making the track the way it sounds for a reason, a little tinkering, fx and track layering is good to add a twist but when overdone it's really annoying I find.

All well said, i give you nothing but respect, after reading some of the the other posts on this thread i can really see what you mean regarding the "big i am" mentality. I do have full sets, to be entirely honest i spend hours in my studio mixing or composing just for the love of doing it, ive uploaded shorter mixes because it was my thought that a shorter mix would hold the users attention and drive them to listen to another mix sooner rather than later. What ive gotten from all of this is simply build a network which is totally understandable.

Thanks man!

[backtothefront]

All well said, i give you nothing but respect, after reading some of the the other posts on this thread i can really see what you mean regarding the "big i am" mentality. I do have full sets, to be entirely honest i spend hours in my studio mixing or composing just for the love of doing it, ive uploaded shorter mixes because it was my thought that a shorter mix would hold the users attention and drive them to listen to another mix sooner rather than later. What ive gotten from all of this is simply build a network which is totally understandable.

Thanks man!

Cheers Jayquil. Just thought I'd better clarify, please don't think I'm suggesting you are acting the 'big I am', certainly wasn't aimed at you, it was just a general point

Re: mixes length, cool, I understand.

Wish you all the best dude.

[onebuckwild]

From my understanding shorter mixes are better for promo, being club owners are not going to listen to an hour mix.
But I agree, being in the club and getting to know the people is the best way in. Once you are know ask for the audition. I just got one the same way by knowing the right person and when asked, they offered me to come in on a band night and play between there set, if goes well Ill get in rotation for the club nights. It really is who you know, every gig was because I knew someone. Some I new from past ventures and some a meet trying to work my way in. But knocking on doors is the way to go, by time you find out they have and opening they already hired someone else. So you need to be there before it happens.

[JasonBay]

On a general point regarding something I've noticed in the last couple of years is the proliferation of 10-15 mins long mixes being uploaded, they don't really allow the listener to properly gauge ability IMO. Quick fire mini mixes are fun and can sound technically great, but in a club situation (referring to house music here) playing a track every couple of minutes over several hours will really grate on the clubbers. Producers of tracks have spent hours making the track the way it sounds for a reason, a little tinkering, fx and track layering is good to add a twist but when overdone it's really annoying I find.

Someone else finally gets it!

[guiltyblade]

I think a 30 min mix is about the max you need to do. Good transitions, in phase, in key, really smooth, light on the effects. That has worked the best for me. Honestly for those I go full throttle for the sound I want. I play a initial track that sets the mood then go fully into it, that way promoters know my style.

[JasonBay]

It's one thing to have a style, it's another to hear how a DJ programs an hour mix. If he just bangs it out for 80mins straight, regardless of how good his mixing is or hot/cool is tracks are I would never book him to play my club.

Kind of hard to show that in a 30min mix

[backtothefront]

Someone else finally gets it!

Heheh, I'm glad I'm not the only one who finds it a bit annoying! .

In fact whenever I look at someone's soundcloud/mixcloud etc pages I don't even bother with the short mixes, I want to hear proper thought out sets, if they're good then my attention will be held for the whole mix. I suppose I'm a bit old school, when a demo/mix tape was just that, 60 or 90 mins long or a cd at least 70 mins.

[JasonBay]

Heheh, I'm glad I'm not the only one who finds it a bit annoying! .

In fact whenever I look at someone's soundcloud/mixcloud etc pages I don't even bother with the short mixes, I want to hear proper thought out sets, if they're good then my attention will be held for the whole mix. I suppose I'm a bit old school, when a demo/mix tape was just that, 60 or 90 mins long or a cd at least 70 mins.

A man after my own heart

[belchman]

yo, couple of interesting points raised in this thread!

i agree with everyone who's been saying they get their gigs from knowing people. One decent night out in the right place, fairly sober, and with the right people can get you a lot of doors opened in a city. (i got 2 more sets the other night from chatting to a guy in a smoking area who brought his mate over who ran a different night etc) - basically if you can prove you're legit and you know your stuff, you've broken the mould of the other 'djs' who ask for sets all the time, and they'll try you out.

i'd be really cautious if i were you about bigging yourself up too much. it's great that you've got loads of support on your soundcloud, but if there's nothing behind it, it doesnt really mean anything (i mean that in the best possible way)
in terms of the scene i'm involved with in the UK at least (and i'm sure others will agree if they're familiar with the bass scene) the online presence is all about quality over quantity and understatement.

at all costs, you want to avoid coming across as the plonker who got their mate to do a photoshoot (vinyl in hand) with pair of headphones round their neck - whilst they write an extensive biography in the 3rd person about how they grew up listening to their parents motown collection - then throws it all up on their djname.com flash website with numerous links to their very low quality soundcloud.

much cooler be someone like jai paul (http://soundcloud.com/jaipaul) who has had three tracks out in total, 6000 followers on soundcloud, 525,000 listens to his latest track - and not a heart-warming biography or pretentious photograph in sight.

this could be looking a bit too far forward - but the point i'm trying to make is that in most cases in my experience, you'd be far better off getting to know your scene, the guys running it, get yourself to some afterparties and chill with the folks involved - then when they give you an hour set at one of their nights, suddenly wow their socks off with your mad dj skills which they never realised you had.

much more effective...

good luck!

(oh and, produce. it'll help not only with your rise to success but your appreciation of the music you play too)