Originally Posted by
DvlsAdvct
I've had a few residencies at club events. The most recent being Asylum Guild, which I am taking a small sabbatical from to get my head straight. Travelling to Manhattan every week is starting to really get to me.
I got this residency the old fashioned way. I was moving down to Jersey from Albany, left all the club nights I was working on there, and e-mailed ALL over the area. I had a demo recorded that I sent around, and one of the guys I sent it to was this DJ at Asylum Guild. They liked it, invited me for a guest spot, and I spun. The downside was that I was spinning during the Skinny Puppy after-party (if you guys don't know Skinny Puppy, you should)... while Skinny Puppy was STILL playing. That night I did a DJ battle with their "star" DJ (my good friend, now, Jai). We were talking shit to each other in a playful manner. He was talking about how no one was up for battling him and I laughed in his face. He challenged me. It was cute. I looked at my friend and rolled my eyes, he looked at his friend and rolled his eyes. He was guaging it by my set, which, to be fair, was really fuckin weird. I was playing really obscure breakbeat-metal (Drumcorps) and Celldweller, Angelspit, bizarre dance music. So we did a back and forth, two tracks a piece and we matched each other track for track. It was fun. They wanted to have me back.
Eventually two of their residents quit (one for 'retirement' and the other for military duty) and they asked me to join.
So, I did what I had to do. I went to all their parties, hung out with them, talked them up, myself up, promoted, did what I had to do.
Yes, I promote the night. It's a delicate balance, though. Hand fliers are best, but I can't be the only one passing them out to people. I work with three other guys, thankfully, but even then there are limitations. The internet works wonders but it's limited. You only find those people who you know to ask (that sign up for LJ communities, join MySpace groups/friends, are on forums). Street promotion still, to me, is key, but it's so hard to do, what with the day job, the desire to practice and eat, and life responsibilities. Fliers are fucking expensive.
The key is to make yourself known, either as a DJ or as an event. It's different for me cause the clubs and events I work for are really small right now. I'm working with some people to bring the udnerground back to NYC, but it's rough, what with prices and a general apathy. But if you get your name out (demo's, remixes, mix'd CDs, fliers, business cards, etc.) and rub shoulders with people in charge (buy DJs drinks, talk to them, get their info, see if you can get pointers, etc.) you'll get yourself there.
Feel free to ask more.
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