I wanted to post a challenge for everyone that has not yet played a live gig to go out and do it this August! Be it a friend’s house party or a paid gig at a club, I want people to venture out of the privacy of their own home and play a live set for people.
I would like to see this thread become a support center for those willing to take the challenge. We can discuss the things we have done to set up the gig, prep our music and equipment, some of the techniques we will use, and finally post some photos and maybe audio streams of our final performance.
I’m willing to take the challenge, who else is on?
i like this idea a lot. part of being a successful DJ is having the balls to go out and just do some stuff, whether it be talking to bar/club owners, handing out demos to everyone you see, or taking it into your own hands and creating your own party when no one else will give you a shot. this is the first step. i encourage everyone who doesn’t play out much (or at all) to take this up and do it. you won’t regret it (most likely )
Shit I’d be so up for this in a month or two. I have yet to perform my first ever complete mix so I feel it’s a bit early to go job chasing (even though I’m actually prepping some contacts to get me going when I’m ready)
last week i got booked for a gig at the 28. of august, so i´m taking the challenge.
btw. it was the first bookin request. i didn´t had to ask someone…so it feels like warm honey getting asked to play at club
Glad to see some people interested in the challenge. So far it sounds like we all have some type of event pre-planned. I have a house party this Saturday with an 80s theme. I’m doing it for some friends, so it wasn’t really a challenge and will probably only do some simple mixing most of the night. I’m still looking to get a paid gig by the end of the month though. How did you guys go about getting your gig?
Janzak: You could take this month as an opportunity to play out to some of your friends. Much less pressure to get everything just right, you can begin to see how your music selection can affect other people, and good practice on moving/setting up all your gear.
Music-wise, I never had much of an 80s collection so I’m buying some used multi-disk compilations from Amazon and hitting up some used record/cd stores today. I’ll probably round out everything I find with some iTunes songs. How have you guys gone about getting your music? If you’ve had to play a genre you’re not used to, what resources have you looked at to find what music to play?
[quote=“misa, post:7, topic:5162, username:misa”]
Janzak: You could take this month as an opportunity to play out to some of your friends. Much less pressure to get everything just right, you can begin to see how your music selection can affect other people, and good practice on moving/setting up all your gear.
[/quote]I was actually at a guerilla party under a highway yesterday and while the location was great and the crowd was open to everything, the DJ pretty much sucked… she had OK technique (CDJ, she matched beats and used the xfader sometimes), her music selection blew for the situation (12 minute minimal house loops don’t quite raise the clouds) and while I don’t wanna be a “I can do that better” snob… I think I quite could the crowd was starving, and I’m getting back to the guys promoting the party
[quote=“misa, post:7, topic:5162, username:misa”]
Music-wise, I never had much of an 80s collection so I’m buying some used multi-disk compilations from Amazon and hitting up some used record/cd stores today.
[/quote]Good idea man! That’ll find those gems super quick instead of raiding iTunes
dude that sounds like my kind of party? were they just using generators to power everything? i’ve been trying to think of the logistics of this. was it visible from the road/how did you find out about it?
Ugh, I’m cramming tonight trying to sort through all the 80s music I’ve bought. Are there any surefire ways to transition between songs you don’t know?
LOL I didnt make the flyer. And no its not strictly goth although due to its location it gets alot of the goths. There is a big main room and then a side gallery. I am going to be spinning chill out and downtempo stuff in the gallery.
That’s if all the songs are properly beatgridded. I’m not going to have time to do all of them manually, and I don’t trust traktor to properly analyze songs other than electronic music.
Since the students begin to come back to the university after summer
and the student night clubs open again I am sure I will play sometime late august.. Don’t know the date though since the DJs that are playing at the night club I am DJing at need to decide who gets what date and such.
Everyone (bartenders, DJs, everyone) that are working at the club are volunteers so the entry level to be able to play is pretty low, it’s a whole lot of fun though! ^^
It will be nice to get back to playing a bit after a long summer break.
So just getting home from the party. It was a blast and the people had fun. Just did some simple mixing between songs, since I didn’t have much time to get aquainted with all the music I compiled. Didn’t realize how many requests you can get from some people, and the mix could definitely get whack if you just follow what people want.
Good experience, looking forward to the next opportunity. I’ll post some pics later.
)
(even though I’m actually prepping some contacts to get me going when I’m ready)
now wait till they start to rush your doors 