# Help with starting to play live shows

**URL:** <https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/help-with-starting-to-play-live-shows/55705>\
**Category:** General Discussion\
**Created:** [April 12, 2013, 5:45pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/help-with-starting-to-play-live-shows/55705 "2013-04-12T17:45:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 17\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![hyyerr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b38774/32.png) [@hyyerr](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/hyyerr)\
**Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 5:45pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/help-with-starting-to-play-live-shows/55705/1 "2013-04-12T17:45:44Z")

</div>

**Help with starting to play live shows**

So I’m pretty confident in myself that I am at the point where I can start djing at events/clubs but I don’t really know where to start how to get these type of gigs does anyone care to share with me any advice to help me get out there? Thanks

Here’s my soundcloud link if anyone wants to take a listen

https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?visual=false&url=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Fusers%2F34957354&show_artwork=true&maxheight=166

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![031999](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/031999/32/86_2.png) [@031999](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/031999)\
**Post date:** [April 13, 2013, 2:11am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/help-with-starting-to-play-live-shows/55705/2 "2013-04-13T02:11:05Z")

</div>

> [@hyyerr](#):
>
> So I’m pretty confident in myself that I am at the point where I can start djing at events/clubs but I don’t really know where to start how to get these type of gigs does anyone care to share with me any advice to help me get out there? Thanks
> 
> Here’s my soundcloud link if anyone wants to take a listen
> 
> [Stream Hyyer music | Listen to songs, albums, playlists for free on SoundCloud](https://www.soundcloud.com/djhyyer)

tell the manager or promoter you’ll play for free for the first gig. And the biggest advice I could give you is…persistence. Man you got to go back again and again and ask to play, be polite but firm and persistent.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![johney](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/johney/32/15364_2.png) [@johney](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/johney)\
**Post date:** [April 13, 2013, 8:05am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/help-with-starting-to-play-live-shows/55705/3 "2013-04-13T08:05:16Z")

</div>

that dubstep mix sounds almost as if you were playing youtube rips… 😕

edit: actually i’m pretty sure that’s what you’re doing, so if true, forget about gigs, that’s wack

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jakeintox](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/jakeintox/32/12699_2.png) [@jakeintox](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/jakeintox)\
**Post date:** [April 13, 2013, 10:43am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/help-with-starting-to-play-live-shows/55705/4 "2013-04-13T10:43:21Z")

</div>

Go to the clubs you want to play at and work on meeting the staff, and whoever does the booking.

Your mixes seem pretty good to me (listening to the trap mix right now, diggin’ it!)

Hate to say it, but the fact that you’re a girl should give you an advantage, too…

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![MYE](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/mye/32/14381_2.png) [@MYE](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/MYE)\
**Post date:** [April 13, 2013, 11:07am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/help-with-starting-to-play-live-shows/55705/5 "2013-04-13T11:07:30Z")

</div>

Like johney said don’t use anything below a 320kbps mp3 in a club.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![djmetalgear](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/djmetalgear/32/14424_2.png) [@djmetalgear](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/djmetalgear)\
**Post date:** [April 13, 2013, 1:33pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/help-with-starting-to-play-live-shows/55705/6 "2013-04-13T13:33:48Z")

</div>

Hi

first off, for your style of music… ur not gonna get booked in ur avg club. so go to the clubs that u kno deal with trap/dubstep and frequent them. like a poster said upstairs… some of the scenes are kinda tight, and if u go up to a manger asking to DJ a night and he or she has NEVER seen u before in their club, sometimes its hard to break thru.

If no one is booking u, then throw ur own party. friends basement, empty warehouse, something, and go from there.

also, your trap mix isnt bad ( didnt listen to the rest, jus trap since its only thing im interested in). You could work on a few of ur transitions, and learn when to drop other songs on the down beats, and 4 count measures of songs, but over all not bad.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ZxZDeViLZxZ](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/zxzdevilzxz/32/10344_2.png) [@ZxZDeViLZxZ](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/ZxZDeViLZxZ)\
**Post date:** [April 13, 2013, 2:00pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/help-with-starting-to-play-live-shows/55705/7 "2013-04-13T14:00:07Z")

</div>

Sound quality lacking mixing is average for that style nothing too insane honestly though sound quality remove thoose re upload a mp3 encoded at 320 of your set sounds like you’ve uploaded like a 128k version of your mix. Or you are usuing really low quality mp3 rips

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![chromatome](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/chromatome/32/16350_2.png) [@chromatome](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/chromatome)\
**Post date:** [April 13, 2013, 4:34pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/help-with-starting-to-play-live-shows/55705/8 "2013-04-13T16:34:51Z")

</div>

> [@MYE](#):
>
> Like johney said don’t use anything below a 320kbps mp3 in a club.

Or V0. Don’t let anyone tell you that it has lesser audio quality in a practical setting.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![johndavid](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/johndavid/32/15212_2.png) [@johndavid](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/johndavid)\
**Post date:** [April 13, 2013, 4:45pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/help-with-starting-to-play-live-shows/55705/9 "2013-04-13T16:45:04Z")

</div>

There’s no magic recipe.

Get involved through and through in your local scene or else get bent.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DJ\_SB](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/dj_sb/32/12848_2.png) [@DJ\_SB](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/DJ_SB)\
**Post date:** [April 14, 2013, 12:25am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/help-with-starting-to-play-live-shows/55705/10 "2013-04-14T00:25:01Z")

</div>

Get out and network. There are tons of good DJs in LA. Sadly, to get an opportunity, it’s about who you know after you get to a certain point skill wise.

I am playing Avalon after hours tonight; I’d be happy to introduce you to some people.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![hyyerr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b38774/32.png) [@hyyerr](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/hyyerr)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 1:33am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/help-with-starting-to-play-live-shows/55705/11 "2013-04-15T01:33:22Z")

</div>

> [@johney](#):
>
> that dubstep mix sounds almost as if you were playing youtube rips… 😕
> 
> edit: actually i’m pretty sure that’s what you’re doing, so if true, forget about gigs, that’s wack

If you don’t have anything positive to say or give some constructive criticism, whats the point of taking your time to reply to me? To put someone down? haha jw

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![hyyerr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b38774/32.png) [@hyyerr](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/hyyerr)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 1:33am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/help-with-starting-to-play-live-shows/55705/12 "2013-04-15T01:33:55Z")

</div>

> [@DJ\_SB](#):
>
> Get out and network. There are tons of good DJs in LA. Sadly, to get an opportunity, it’s about who you know after you get to a certain point skill wise.
> 
> I am playing Avalon after hours tonight; I’d be happy to introduce you to some people.

ahh i just saw this right now. do you play at the avalon any other nights?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![hyyerr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b38774/32.png) [@hyyerr](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/hyyerr)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 1:36am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/help-with-starting-to-play-live-shows/55705/13 "2013-04-15T01:36:41Z")

</div>

Thanks everyone for your replies! 🙂

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![johney](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/johney/32/15364_2.png) [@johney](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/johney)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 6:46am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/help-with-starting-to-play-live-shows/55705/14 "2013-04-15T06:46:53Z")

</div>

> [@hyyerr](#):
>
> If you don’t have anything positive to say or give some constructive criticism, whats the point of taking your time to reply to me? To put someone down? haha jw

my constructive criticism is, buy your shit. People who play pirated music out don’t deserve respect

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mistertuckshop](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/mistertuckshop/32/16217_2.png) [@mistertuckshop](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/mistertuckshop)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 9:42am UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/help-with-starting-to-play-live-shows/55705/15 "2013-04-15T09:42:37Z")

</div>

> [@hyyerr](#):
>
> If you don’t have anything positive to say or give some constructive criticism, whats the point of taking your time to reply to me? To put someone down? haha jw

that is constructive criticism: don’t play youtube rips, they sound awful

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![johney](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/forum.djtechtools.com/johney/32/15364_2.png) [@johney](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/johney)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 8:00pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/help-with-starting-to-play-live-shows/55705/16 "2013-04-15T20:00:36Z")

</div>

then there’s the moral aspect…

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Sambo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sambo](https://forum.djtechtools.com/u/Sambo)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2013, 9:58pm UTC](https://forum.djtechtools.com/t/help-with-starting-to-play-live-shows/55705/17 "2013-04-15T21:58:54Z")

</div>

I became a barman, was offered the job of light jock by chance, then discovered I was in prime position to finally learn how to DJ and get a job. Less than a year later (But with hours and hours of practice, and being a session musician before hand) I’m a working DJ.
