How to deal with dividing set slots

[bmo]

How to deal with dividing set slots

Hey everyone,

So basically I’ve got a gig coming up that I hustled hard to get and basically I’m setting this up for myself and 3 other DJs.

The issue, is that last gig we set up flopped pretty badly, a mixture of UFC and avicii on the same night really hurt us bad. So what happened was that because I hustled hard for our last gig (i was the one who got it booked and everything) I got first dibs on a playing slot which was 12-1. The rest kind of shottied or “called” for their slot.

This time around once again I’m setting up the event, and because I’m setting it up, and basically giving these other DJs a gig, I figure it’s only right that I get to choose my favourite slot, so i’m picking 12-1. The gig is kind of last minute so i just threw it up in a facebook message and everyone scrambled for their slot.

The unfortunate thing is that the two guys who opened and closed last event, got stuck with the same opening and closing slots as last gig. Considering they were basically spinning for an empty dancefloor (opener) and the closer got a really shitty slot 2-3 which he ended about 20-30 mins in because no one was at the club.

Now the opener and closer are upset about getting shafted again, to a point where one of the guys said he didn’t want to do it (I feel bad, because he really did get a shitty bargain). I really want to be fair and coordinate the times fairly, but I don’t want to do all the work of getting the venues lined up and the gigs, just to be screwed into playing a shitty time to make someone else happy.

To be clear, I haven’t really received any gigs from these guys, except one of the DJs offered me a gig a few weeks ago that I had to turn down, and another guy did me a favour and tried to master a mix for me, which was a really good job. So its not like I’m really making an awesome return on investment getting these guys to spin, but they spin the right music.

I also feel like I have a moral obligation to bring these guys along, since we did set out as a team at the beginning of summer to setup our gigs, we all messaged different venues and managers. But I guess I’m just the best at doing business? I get the feeling the others are just lazy fucks.

How should I go about this?

thanks, in advance.

[Yul]

and because I’m setting it up, and basically giving these other DJs a gig, I figure it’s only right that I get to choose my favourite slot, so i’m picking 12-1.

No, the question is: are you the best to fit this particular slot (or is the music you play is the one that fits the most). You should have a global view here if you are the ‘promoter’ (and may be you have, and may be you’re the best fit).

[quote]but I don’t want to do all the work of getting the venues lined up and the gigs,[/quote] Meeting time! To have a serious discussion about it and eventually redistribute the tasks and makes things clear.

[quote]a mixture of UFC and avicii on the same night really hurt us bad.[/quote] wow…makes you wonder where or for who you play

[Nicky_H]

Well I think it’s fair that whoever gets the gig, gets to choose their spot..

As for including them, I would.
You might need them in future.

[lethal_pizzle]

Sounds like you’re the de facto leader of this team, so if you want to make it a success you’ll have to keep your team sweet. If you can’t get the personel you won’t keep the gig, so arguing about set times will be moot.

[bmo]

@Yul

No, the question is: are you the best to fit this particular slot (or is the music you play is the one that fits the most). You should have a global view here if you are the ‘promoter’ (and may be you have, and may be you’re the best fit).

I’m the most experienced, that’s how I got the connections to get us into venues.

Meeting time! To have a serious discussion about it and eventually redistribute the tasks and makes things clear.

We already went over this last gig, but because shit went down badly, everyone wants to look out for themselves.

wow…makes you wonder where or for who you play

Toronto is a city of 3 million people, which arguably maybe 200,000 are party goers. Considering that 55, 000 juiced up guidos were watching UFC that night at the rogers centre, and tens of thousands more at bars and pubs, and then another 6000 at Avicii, really means that all the girls who would normally go out with all those guys at UFC didn’t go out, and obviously neither did the guys. All the clubs that my other DJs buds spun at lost money that night.

Dunno why you gotta come out and hate like that, but if that gets you to sleep at night here <3

[bmo]

@lethal_pizzle

Sounds like you’re the de facto leader of this team, so if you want to make it a success you’ll have to keep your team sweet. If you can’t get the personel you won’t keep the gig, so arguing about set times will be moot.

The owner and managers for all they know it’s just me spinning, they don’t care who else is spinning, because they know me and what I bring. I’m not under any obligation to keep the other DJs except for moral obligation, and connections and to keep the peace.

[Yul]

[quote]Well I think it’s fair that whoever gets the gig, gets to choose their spot..[/quote]That’s my point, it’s not about being “fair”, it’s about running a successful event; that is the difference between amateurs and pros (no personal offence to whoever intended at all). But as I said if you’re the best fit and you’re making the gig to happen, go for it, don’t have a doubt.

[bmo]

@Yul

That’s my point, it’s not about being “fair”, it’s about running a successful event; that is the difference between amateurs and pros (no personal offence to whoever intended at all). But as I said if you’re the best fit and you’re making the gig to happen, go for it, don’t have a doubt.

I know, what I want to know is how to split the other Guys’ times.

[Yul]

[quote]
Quote:
wow…makes you wonder where or for who you play
Toronto is a city of 3 million people, which arguably maybe 200,000 are party goers. Considering that 55, 000 juiced up guidos were watching UFC that night at the rogers centre, and tens of thousands more at bars and pubs, and then another 6000 at Avicii, really means that all the girls who would normally go out with all those guys at UFC didn’t go out, and obviously neither did the guys. All the clubs that my other DJs buds spun at lost money that night.

Dunno why you gotta come out and hate like that, but if that gets you to sleep at night here <3 [/quote]
I think you’re misunderstood me. As a european, that makes me wonder (because the ufc isn’t ‘that’ popular in my country, because the time slots aren’t the same, etc…). It wasn’t a judgement in a sense. And please expand your vocabulary, that’s not “hating”. Chill out.

[bmo]

@Yul

I think you’re misunderstood me. As a european, that makes me wonder (because the ufc isn’t ‘that’ popular in my country, because the time slots aren’t the same, etc…). It wasn’t a judgement in a sense. And please expand your vocabulary, that’s not “hating”. Chill out.

obviously if I misunderstood you you can see why I thought you were “hating” please forgive me.

[Yul]

Thanks for the definition ^^, it’s appreciated.

[bmo]

@Yul

Thanks for the definition ^^, it’s appreciated.

you’re welcome…back on topic

[photojojo]

You as the organizer should choose who gets what slot based on their ability, not on a first come first serve basis. Making it an open call for people to ‘claim’ their spots probably wasn’t really in the best interest of the event. I think the real decision you need to make is which DJ’s you want to piss off because someone’s not going to like being bumped.

[The_Bong_Squad]

2-3am is a good time! Graveyard shift is the worst (5-6am), it doesn’t matter what BPM / mixing style you have! Everyone will be dancing at 60BPM!

Are you not able to cut everyones set times down to 45 minutes and slot them in a mid range time so that they can at least get them a decent time? Or possibly go back to back with a DJ of simular mixing style?

This is what we did, and we started off as single DJ’s but started playing back to back at parties ended up with us playing on a permanent basis

[bmo]

@photojojo

You as the organizer should choose who gets what slot based on their ability, not on a first come first serve basis. Making it an open call for people to ‘claim’ their spots probably wasn’t really in the best interest of the event. I think the real decision you need to make is which DJ’s you want to piss off because someone’s not going to like being bumped.

Thank you, that’s the biggest dilemma, because somebody will be upset regardless. I guess I will just have to sit down and go over the list based on playing style like Yul suggested.

@The_Bong_Squad

2-3am is a good time! Graveyard shift is the worst (5-6am), it doesn’t matter what BPM / mixing style you have! Everyone will be dancing at 60BPM!

Are you not able to cut everyones set times down to 45 minutes and slot them in a mid range time so that they can at least get them a decent time? Or possibly go back to back with a DJ of simular mixing style?

This is what we did, and we started off as single DJ’s but started playing back to back at parties ended up with us playing on a permanent basis

Yea I have a partner I spin with regularly but he’s back off at school for a summer term and I’m back home for a working term unfortunately

Thanks for the suggestion though.

[Yul]

The Bongo squad offered you the best suggestion so far if you want to ‘keep the peace’, could be really fun actually to have a shared session at the end.

because somebody will be upset regardless.

A gig is a gig, one accepts it or declines it. And if one accepts it, then there should be no issue afterwards (easily said, not the case in reality I agree), otherwise find someone else.

[bmo]

@Yul

The Bongo squad offered you the best suggestion so far if you want to ‘keep the peace’, could be really fun actually to have a shared session at the end.

A gig is a gig, one accepts it or declines it. And if one accepts it, then there should be no issue afterwards (easily said, not the case in reality I agree), otherwise find someone else.

suppose you’re right, guess I have to bite the bullet and get through it.

cheers for the advice, and sorry about the misunderstanding before!

[smiTTTen]

Calling Yul a hater is like calling me a dentist. I am not a dentist.

I think you have been given some good advice here. You have found yourself in a pseudo-management position here. You have employees you either need now or, may need in the future. At the same time you are doing all the business development work here and they are looking to show up and score the top slot at least 1 in every 3 gigs.

I agree that you have the ultimate call on all of this. If you want to keep these guys around long term you might consider given them each a prime slot going forward. That will not only diffuse the issue, move the focus away from you being a Slot-Hog (I may trademark that) but it will also demonstrate if they have what it takes.

I also agree that you need to sit down and chat at some point where there isn’t a gig right around corner. If they try to switch positions down the road - buy them skirts or cut them loose.

[bmo]

@smiTTTen

Calling Yul a hater is like calling me a dentist. I am not a dentist.

did you not just see my last post, literally right before yours?

[bmo]

@smiTTTen

I think you have been given some good advice here. You have found yourself in a pseudo-management position here. You have employees you either need now or, may need in the future. At the same time you are doing all the business development work here and they are looking to show up and score the top slot at least 1 in every 3 gigs.

I agree that you have the ultimate call on all of this. If you want to keep these guys around long term you might consider given them each a prime slot going forward. That will not only diffuse the issue, move the focus away from you being a Slot-Hog (I may trademark that) but it will also demonstrate if they have what it takes.

I also agree that you need to sit down and chat at some point where there isn’t a gig right around corner. If they try to switch positions down the road - buy them skirts or cut them loose.

Thanks for the info, I like the idea about talking about set times before the event, that may prevent future instances of the same sort in the future.