Hey guys just returned from Vegas and extremely disappointed I didn’t hit a single club (gf was sick on the trip so couldn’t really go out all hours of the night) I missed Z-trip with MSTRKRFT at Rain grrrr. But one thing I saw was a DJ i playing in a clothing store. This isn’t the first time I’d seen this, also in a store in vancouver. My question is what do you guys think of this? I’d really like to do this I think it’s a good way to get exposure and just be heard. There’s a boardshop here in town and I kind of know the owner. What would be the best way to approach this, has anyone else done this sort of thing.
Yeah I see it in malls on weekends all the time. It is a job and something to do but you’re not going to get any exposure, you’re basically just playing background music and acting like a glorified ipod playlist. The stores really do it just to have a live DJ in the store as a hip image. You have no crowd who cares what’s playing or that pays any attention to you are the music for the most part, the only notice you will get is another DJ once in a while.
I would still take it just to get paid to basically practice, depending on the store. A lot have their own gear which is really bad from what I’ve seen. The best clothing store setup I saw (Guess) was an actual booth with a DJM-400 and CDJ-800s. Otherwise it’s usually some turntables and a numark mixer or all stanton/numark gear.
I’ve seen this a bunch of times and it usually bothers me because it’s music I hate being played very loud and wafting into the hallways (or streets) where I’m trying to avoid dealing with it. But I’m an arrogant, elitist ass
If you want to do this then yeah, ask the boardshop owner. It can’t hurt. Though, you’ll probably have to provide everything. Pitch it like "I’ll create a different atmosphere that will keep people mulling around wanting to hear music.
Keep in mind, though, that there is a completely different psychology to this and you’re not trying to get people to dance. If it’s something you want to keep doing you’re trying to keep people shopping. Something totally different
“he needs those sunglasses so he can leer at the women all day without them noticing.”
This is finally the only legit reason i’ve heard for wearing sunglasses indoors. I dig the whole creating a different atmosphere. I have a lot of chill hip hop that would go well with the place and it’d just be nice to get to play out. I’m not saying it would be an everyday thing but for big events that they have like big sales. I think with Djing becoming more mainstream it’s just a different angle of it.
I DJ in a clothes shop every saturday afternoon in my home town in the North East of England. They sell all high end fashion labels like Prada, Paul Smith, Nudie Jeans, Pretty Green and stuff like that. All pretty expensive, way out of my budget.
I get paid in store vouchers which works for me. I’d probably just drink the money or waste on some other shit, plus it’s a good tax write off too. And it beats the shit out of lying in bed with a hangover which is what normally happens on a saturday.
As far as the actual gig goes, it’s pretty quiet, a little louder than background music, but then who wants to have their ears blasted off when they’re shopping for clothes on saturday afternoon?
I have to say, I love it. There’s no dance floor to maintain so I play whatever I like. I have total creative freedom. I try out new stuff to see if it works, practice set pieces that I use at the bar I DJ at on saturday evening, mess around with effects, whatever I feel like. Pure indulgence, I would definitely recommend it.
Too bad a lot of people and DJ’s around here als use this to hide their coked up eyes (or whatever the stuff their on). But back on topic; if it pays and you can decide what you want to play without making too much compromises, then why not? It’s always good on a CV, right?
Speak to the boardshop owner - if you don’t ask you don’t get! I think its always good for both technique and confidence to practice in front of a live audience.
Back in the day, trendy London clothing store Urban Outfitters had an instore record shop that was pretty decent (Carbon Records). Don’t know if thats still the case since its moved.
I gig in a skate shop about once a month. The shop is open until around 10pm so we get some brews and make a little party of it. Its a great way to get some sweet gear from the shop and plug a residency later in the night.
