How to get Gigs at Clubs?
Hey,
So I was wondering how do you get gigs at clubs specifically Under-ages, do I talk to the promoters or what do I do? I think I am good enough to start playing gigs, If you want check out my you tube page:http://www.youtube.com/user/ThisIsRemixXD
You ask about underage clubs in Adelaide - do any exist? I live in Perth (similair size) and as far as I know, there is no underage clubs. If you not 18, there really not much you can do untill then - virtually every club won’t want to hear about you untill you’re 18.
If you’re 18, then you have to know people. This is the hard part. I broke into my local scene through knowing other DJs and promoters through uni - after about a year of hanging out (not soliciting gigs, just hanging out) I was offered an opening set at the Thursday night student night. From there, I just met more people on the scene, and things went from there.
Finally, what I was from you short video has ok - but if I was a promoter, I wouldn’t give you a set based on just that video. Try and record at least an hour long set in the genre you want to play in - and think about having an acessible set - as much as you may like hardstyle, or banging electro house (I do 
) not everyone will want to hear it. Hate to say it, but Top 40 is king in Oz. 
Good luck mate!
yep,
know people, know people, know people!
k
This!
in Adelaide there is alot of underage clubs, i just dont know who to speak to?
every one is saying I have to know people, but who should I know, the promoters??
Technically you don’t need to be over 18 - many DJs, myself included, played in clubs way before they hit 18 - as long as you come with someone who is over 18 and you behave yourself it won’t cause any issues. This is something to address when you actually have sets.
Unfortunately the DJ scene is about who you know, much less focus on what you know - it’s just the way it is. You need to be getting your mixes out there, to clubbers, to promoters - to anyone who will take one - start to build some hype on your name.
Think of yourself as a product - why should someone book you? most event owners want you to bring people into their club so they spend money, and that happens from people being aware of who you are and what you do.
Set up a Soundcloud page - upload your mixes, tell everyone and their dog about them - share the links on forums and in emails to event promoters. It’s a long, hard journey but it’s worth it if you love music!
(1) Find a club that plays what you play, keep going there and become a regular face.
(2) Be a friendly and decent person.
(3) If you think you have something to offer that they don’t have atm get some mixes up. If you don’t, don’t bother, the world is full of identikit djs and you have to ask why they would bother booking someone pretty much the same as the other people they have there.
I’ve seriously never asked for a gig in my whole djing career and just got all my gigs by following those rough steps above.
I’d make a demo CD to hand out with 3 x 25 minute mixes on it. If getting gigs is your goal then make them
different genres. And accessible - I’m not sure the above will get you regular under 18 gigs. Then approach promoters, managers, bar staff, anyone and give them the CD. Be prepared to drop other plans at the drop of a hat if you get asked.
If anyone asks if you can mix on CDJs say ‘yes’. Learn to mix on CDJs.
Lastly, everyone is doing what you’re doing, so make sure you’re better than them. This means having a better mix CD, and generally looking like you’re honest, confident, competent and resilient.
Yeah, that too. There are plenty of people (myself included) who won’t take you seriously if you can’t beatmatch.
Adelaide is a real tough scene to break into for clubs. The issue is that most places only play top 40 unless your really willing to scout around. If you’re underage, I’m assuming your still in school, play house parties, get all your friends interested in you. If you have a willing fanbase, that gives you an advantage in the fact that you can bring to gigs.
There are also numerous DJ comps, like the one the Crown and Sceptre is having at the moment.
haha, sorry I was in a bit of a rush there so will expand on “know people know people know people”
Yeah promoters and bar managers are your key, whoever it is that books the DJs. Yes start getting your CD’s around, get a website made with your name on it and some pics etc, hand some fliers out. This all creates buzz around your name etc but at this early stage of trying to get your first gig these are all secondary.
Start going to all these various nights at the same time, and and fairly early on get to know whoever you can. Sometimes you may get to the person you want straight away, other times you may need to work your way up by getting to know other staff.
Bouncers are an easy bet often. I don’t know about in Australia but here in Scotland we have a law banning smoking indoors (passive smoking for others etc) so everyone stands outside to smoke in big groups, and there are always a few bouncers there. Now I’m not saying start smoking, but with everyone standing about outside and no music its easy to chat so go out with a mate if he’s smoking or pretend your out to get a signal on your phone or something and make some small talk with the bouncer. Over a few weeks he’ll start to recognise you as you queue up to get in and say hi, maybe give you a handshake etc, and eventually even let you skip queues etc. All makes you look like your one of the cool crowd and know people.
Bar staff are a little harder as when the club is full they’re usually a bit busy and cant talk but get in quite early when its quiet and they are standing around a bit and do the same, get to the point where they give you a nod when they see you, maybe serve you a little ahead of others in the queue etc.
Anyway soon as you get to know who it is your actually wanting to speak to, try the same thing and get to know them. eventually work into the conversation you’re a DJ and what your DJ name is if you have one. Now be warned (and this is where you’ll start to grow your thick, knockback based DJ skin) he’ll either say he hasn’t heard of you, laugh and say yeah so is everyone these days, or just nod politely but have no idea who you are. I would be SCHOCKED if anything happens at this stage. But be polite and just smile and nod and small talk, be friendly and again just look to build up a friendly relationship.
However, he will now have a face and a name.
Now your secondary work comes in. When he starts seeing your CD’s about, or fliers, or here people talking about your mixes, he think “oh that was that young guy that came and spoke to me” or “thats that young guy who comes up and says hi in the club when he’s in, he’s a nice dude”. If the mixes are good you may catch his interest and he may even pop onto your website and have a look.
So do this with 3 or 4 clubs in your area, get to know everyone and after that its a waiting game. Eventually some DJ will go on holiday, or phone in sick at the last minute, or the bar will get a one off booking for a party or something that’s outside the normal DJ nights, and if your fresh in their head they may just decide to give you a phone and see how good you are. And thats you got a foot in.
Unless you stun them so muck with your choice of music (much more important than skill and mixing tricks in most places) and they offer you a regular slot on the spot, it will still be lots of hard work and more of the same really to convert this foot in the door to a regular money making career, but you’ll at least have started on the road
k
WOW, thank you sooo much, I will start going out more and get to know people. Thank you soo much for the detailed info .