My DJ Promo :D

[DJ Descendent]

Thnx your comment is the most resonable.lol but thnx to everyone trying to help out on what i should incorperate into things and what not

I checked out your profile information before posting, as I was pretty sure you're (a) young fellow(s). Most people already pointed out that there's little to no need for a promo video. And I can understand where you're coming from. You're young & ambitious. From what I read on you're little 'about me', it seems that you want to be a famous DJ. Just work on the mixing part! Record them, put them online and get feedback on those. Once you get gigs & start making a name, you can always make a little promo from an aftermovie from one of your gigs.

Good luck. Just take it slow, and take careful steps if you want people to take you seriously.

[DJ Descendent]

Well you read the guys commet wrong because my main goal is not to become famous but to become good...i want it for the music and the love for music...if fame can come in then yes i would love that but all i want is to be a great dj/producer(eventually) and DJ smaller venues (at the least) by the time im 16.

Wise words. In fact, a lot of what people have said here is quite wise

Mixes speak volumes more than a minute or two long video of you "mixing", again scratching and controllerism routines are an exception.

Also I hope that when you get older you realise that if you really love the music, the music and being true to it is wayyy more important than being famous, that's integrity. Do your own thing, be true to who you are and don't go for something simply because it's popular... oh and keep practicing, starting young was a great idea!

[DJ Descendent]

this is really nice on the time you took to make that comment thnx so much for all the help on how i should approach things and listen to people...currently i have great connections but all i need is some good stufff and like you said if im focused and work hard i could work my way up wich i am doind but i do need a full set and a nice controller so i can get into the controllerism but im getting there...i have a NDX-400 and a X6 mixer but i need another NDX-400 and i have TS Audio 4 DJ interface and a novation lauchpad...ill be sending out great mixes after christmas.

This!

I just checked out your SoundCloud page OP, and honestly - I think you're going about this in the wrong way. I know you're only 13 (or so it says on your profile there) so I'm not here to beat you up or talk down to you, but then I'm not going to make an exception for your age either.

When I go to a SoundCloud page I don't want to hear bits of tracks, and mixes that are just 2 song that are about 10 minutes long and packed full of effects and knob-twiddling. If you want to start building an online rep as a good DJ, you have to make me want to hit that "Follow" button. Just having pages on sites is meaningless cos every man and his dog has a Facebook fan page, a SoundCloud account etc.

When you first start out with DJing it can be hard to know good from bad. You need time and experience to develop the "DJ's ear". Being 13 has advantages and disadvantages. You're gonna lack maturity compared to some old geezer like me and you're likely to lack focus too, but time is on your side. By 18 you could be a wicked DJ - well before then even, if you are focussed. But everything you post on your Facebook and SoundCloud pages represents you as a DJ and it's currently not building you a good rep.

Have fun with it and do your thing, but be aware that people don't really care how old you are when they listen to your stuff. Practice hard, try and focus, don't put the opinions of your friends above DJs/producers with lots of experience, and hold back on posting stuff until you're ready. Listen to the feedback you've already received on SoundCloud, for example, "way too many effects!". Basically, get yourself holed up in the lab (i.e. your bedroom, lol) for a few months and work on the core basics of DJing, then you can bring a nice solid mix to the table.

[squidot]

This!

I just checked out your SoundCloud page OP, and honestly - I think you're going about this in the wrong way. I know you're only 13 (or so it says on your profile there) so I'm not here to beat you up or talk down to you, but then I'm not going to make an exception for your age either.

When I go to a SoundCloud page I don't want to hear bits of tracks, and mixes that are just 2 song that are about 10 minutes long and packed full of effects and knob-twiddling. If you want to start building an online rep as a good DJ, you have to make me want to hit that "Follow" button. Just having pages on sites is meaningless cos every man and his dog has a Facebook fan page, a SoundCloud account etc.

When you first start out with DJing it can be hard to know good from bad. You need time and experience to develop the "DJ's ear". Being 13 has advantages and disadvantages. You're gonna lack maturity compared to some old geezer like me and you're likely to lack focus too, but time is on your side. By 18 you could be a wicked DJ - well before then even, if you are focussed. But everything you post on your Facebook and SoundCloud pages represents you as a DJ and it's currently not building you a good rep.

Have fun with it and do your thing, but be aware that people don't really care how old you are when they listen to your stuff. Practice hard, try and focus, don't put the opinions of your friends above DJs/producers with lots of experience, and hold back on posting stuff until you're ready. Listen to the feedback you've already received on SoundCloud, for example, "way too many effects!". Basically, get yourself holed up in the lab (i.e. your bedroom, lol) for a few months and work on the core basics of DJing, then you can bring a nice solid mix to the table.

i couldn't agree more and i definitely think you shouldn't post sets until they up to a certain standard. i listened to some of your house mix on soundcloud and you start to trainwreck within 30 seconds of the set. when i hear that right in the beginning, i'm done listening...as i'm sure many others are as well. keep practicing and really listen to your stuff before you put it up.

if i were you i would worry about getting mixes down before you even consider making a promo video, but then again, i would never make a promo video to show off normal djing for the sake of getting my name out there. if i had a nice little controller or scratch routine, i may consider it but i don't really do that style of djing.

[DJ Descendent]

Well tnx. this will really help me with how i am going to approach my DJ Career and how i am going to do it...well in the mean time you guys should either follow me on Soundcloud or Subscribe to my Youtube or Like my page to see my progression and put your view on things to help critique my ways
http://www.youtube.com/user/DJDescendent?feature=mhee
http://www.facebook.com/DjDescendent
https://soundcloud.com/c0mpl3x

[protocollie]

Well tnx. this will really help me with how i am going to approach my DJ Career and how i am going to do it...well in the mean time you guys should either follow me on Soundcloud or Subscribe to my Youtube or Like my page to see my progression and put your view on things to help critique my ways
http://www.youtube.com/user/DJDescendent?feature=mhee
http://www.facebook.com/DjDescendent
https://soundcloud.com/c0mpl3x

can i offer you another really really really really big piece of advice?

for those of us who have been around the block many times, people who just ask you indiscriminately to follow them on different social networks come across as shameless. it always leaves a bad taste in my mouth. i'm not judging; i know you're new. 10 years down the road when you're looking back you'll feel the same way too, I promise. But keep it in mind; when someone takes every opportunity to mention the social networks I can follow 'em on, I write them off. When I'm interested, I ask out of my own interest.

When you're good enough, you won't need to ask. Until that point, you shouldn't. Just gathering "followers" is useless. You want fans who appreciate what you do.

[DJ Descendent]

Never thought of it that way. Thnx

can i offer you another really really really really big piece of advice?

for those of us who have been around the block many times, people who just ask you indiscriminately to follow them on different social networks come across as shameless. it always leaves a bad taste in my mouth. i'm not judging; i know you're new. 10 years down the road when you're looking back you'll feel the same way too, I promise. But keep it in mind; when someone takes every opportunity to mention the social networks I can follow 'em on, I write them off. When I'm interested, I ask out of my own interest.

When you're good enough, you won't need to ask. Until that point, you shouldn't. Just gathering "followers" is useless. You want fans who appreciate what you do.

[DJSigma]

this is really nice on the time you took to make that comment thnx so much for all the help on how i should approach things and listen to people...currently i have great connections but all i need is some good stufff and like you said if im focused and work hard i could work my way up wich i am doind but i do need a full set and a nice controller so i can get into the controllerism but im getting there...i have a NDX-400 and a X6 mixer but i need another NDX-400 and i have TS Audio 4 DJ interface and a novation lauchpad...ill be sending out great mixes after christmas.

No worries man.

My advice for mixing would be to work on the basics: -

1. Focus on music you like. Try and build your music collection and knowledge of the music you like. It sounds obvious, but some people try and make mixes that they think other people will like, when they're not that into the tunes they're mixing - don't do that!

2. Get solid at the technical basics - beatmatching, phrase matching, levels and EQs.

3. Make sure your mixes have good sound quality. Not just the track to track levels, but the overall level. Use good quality source files if you're mixing MP3s or other digital files.

4. Record your practice sessions. Listen back to them and try and pick out the things you're bad at and work on getting better in those areas. If you want feedback, post a mix up online and start a thread on here or other forums that you visit, but don't do that too early! Make sure you hone those skills first!

Solid basics are what you need. Forget twiddling loads of EQ knobs and messing with loops and effects. You can experiment with that stuff later on.

And this post would be nothing without an analogy, lol, so think of it like this: -

The basics of DJing (what I mentioned in 1-4 above) = cooking a meal
Effects/looping/scratching etc. = adding seasoning to that meal

At the moment, you're not a good cook and you're adding way too much seasoning.

[DJ Descendent]

HAHA thnx i will work on that

No worries man.

My advice for mixing would be to work on the basics: -

1. Focus on music you like. Try and build your music collection and knowledge of the music you like. It sounds obvious, but some people try and make mixes that they think other people will like, when they're not that into the tunes they're mixing - don't do that!

2. Get solid at the technical basics - beatmatching, phrase matching, levels and EQs.

3. Make sure your mixes have good sound quality. Not just the track to track levels, but the overall level. Use good quality source files if you're mixing MP3s or other digital files.

4. Record your practice sessions. Listen back to them and try and pick out the things you're bad at and work on getting better in those areas. If you want feedback, post a mix up online and start a thread on here or other forums that you visit, but don't do that too early! Make sure you hone those skills first!

Solid basics are what you need. Forget twiddling loads of EQ knobs and messing with loops and effects. You can experiment with that stuff later on.

And this post would be nothing without an analogy, lol, so think of it like this: -

The basics of DJing (what I mentioned in 1-4 above) = cooking a meal
Effects/looping/scratching etc. = adding seasoning to that meal

At the moment, you're not a good cook and you're adding way too much seasoning.

[rkelley23]

Ive just got to say this thread is a pretty damn good example of why DJTT is such a good little forum for us DJ folk. Often lots of criticism but its all constructive(aside from the token asshole here and there).