My story!!! (long but inspirational)

DJ Life & Community General Discussion
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My story!!! (long but inspirational)

EDIT: Set is up just click on the last page… ENJOY!!

Me:
I have been a music man all my life. Being that Im only 21, I can easily say that music has had more than an impact on my life. EDM has always been my main squeeze, but I still listen to rap, top 40, country, blue grass, oldies, etc. I started Djing about 2 years ago (always using my buddies equipment because i didnt have my own). I now own a Numark IDJ3, which can be purchased at any Electronic retailer such as best buy, guitar center, etc. This controller is a great starter/advanced controller. I have djed 1 gig so far and that was a house party (which went great!).

Always having hope:
About 2 years ago I came up with an idea called Trancelvania. This would be a costume halloween rave located in southern illinois. Of course, it never happened due to lack of promotion, money, time, etc. Recently on the other hand, I decided to take that leap. EDM does not have a huge scene around here. There are only 2 (mixing) djs in my local 30 mile radius that I personally know. If that doesnt give you a mental image I live between cornfields, cows, and horses in a town of 550 people. So closeminded country folk are the mainstream around here.

Grabbin the bull by the horns:
About 2 months ago, i decided im going to actually do this. I called a local community center rented out a banquet room. Went and spoke to the local music store owner/wedding dj and gigged him for the night for his PA, and started promoting. I made a promo flyer in MS Paint the best i could (im not good with photoshop.). Went to Office Max and printed 200 copies, that same day i started promoting.
Pic of the promo flyer:

The more i promoted the more i received positive feedback from strangers and friends alike. Everyone who was interested in me presenting my own event that i payed out of pocket for was willing to help with anything as much as possible. A very nice girl made 2 official flyers for the event
Pic of the 1st official flyer:

Pic of the 2nd official flyer:

And now the night is finally here after much anticipation wether 150 people show up or just 15 people show up, Im proud of myself and what ive already accomplished through word of mouth, flyer, and online advertising.

Moral:
Dont give up on anything you put your mind to. If you would have told someone 2 years ago that an EDM festival would be going on in Hoyleton illinois, they would have either laughed or said where the hell is that and look what ive done just from persistance and hope.

PS:
Will post pictures of the event and a live recording of my set on here so you guys can see the turn out… WISH ME LUCK MOTHA FUCKAS!!!

27wonka

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Best of luck man:smiley: i have my first gig in about 15 hours:smiley: its a 5 hour gig:smiley: its just a house party,nothin big but it will be cool:smiley:

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good luck Homes!

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All the best…

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Good luck and don’t get drunk.

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Good luck man! hope it goes well!

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Good luck!

You did it the right way–you went for it.

I’ll link this when people come asking how they should get started :slight_smile:

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Thanks man id be honored to help up and coming djs in a ‘no scene’ area. I still get ridiculed by people who are all about Johhny Cash and Rodney Carrington (not saying that they are not good) but the people around here are the first to shoot you down for doing something different such as this. So i said screw that, im doing it anyways by myself and my friend (Dj Funke [the only other mixing dj i personally now in my local area{aka the guy who honestly taught me pretty much everything i needed to start djing}]). Lets this be an inspiration to those who fear being different in any circumstance and stand your ground. Do what you love and let no opinion get in your way!!!

27wonka

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awesome :smiley: my first gig was an 20 minutes long(cops shut it down) in the park using nothing but a laptop and a novation 25 key midicontroller. my first real gig was an hour long at the Daily Grind where my residency is right now :smiley: enjoy your first gig

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Yeah man, go for it.
Promoting is where the money is at not dj’ing.
You will soon see this.

And whoever the girl is who did the flyers, hire her…

Oh sorry but it’s whether not weather or wether - weather is the current atmospheric conditions, and wether is a castrated ram or billy goat.

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Dude! Awesome! I’m totally stoked for you bro! Thanks for posting that wonderful little slice of inspiration. :+1:

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good luck on your event tonight and most importantly have fun!

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good for you brother, big props to you. Let us know how it went.

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The best example:

I know you will ace it!

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great job. the new flyers look awesome!

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Hey everyone just an update the event went amazingly well, and everyone there said my friend and I did a fantastic job. Everyone was completely impressed with how everything went…

Pictures of the Event can be found here

And my set can be listened to here:

or

P.1

https://soundcloud.com/dwonka27/electro-fest-set-p-1

P.2

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I have some questions for you:

  1. was the event profitable money wise?
  2. what was the single biggest expense?
  3. now that you have done one, what would you change for the second time?

You have got me rethinking my pursuits of generating revenue from dance music

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1 A. Money wasnt the issue i actually put the event on out of pocket. So no profit was made but that wasnt the reason i did it.

2 A. The biggest expense was the PA because i dont own my own yet which was only a 150 split by 2 people so 75 bucks a piece. and 60 dollars for the room rental. Very cheap considering everything!!!

3 A. Either the location and/or my promoting manner. If a ton of people had shown up they all would have had a blast because the 25 who did had an epic time include the 2 djs :thumbsup:

Sometimes you just have to suck it up and take one for the team. Money to me isnt important although it is nice its not my biggest priority! There was no cover and we both paid out of pocket like i mentioned earlier. We love what we do, and apparently so does everyone else. You have to get your name out there someway and this is my way of doing that.

I have another event coming up in October that will be a Rave/Costume Party that im organizing, which in turn will be HUGE!!!

Take risk man no one ever got known for being Plain Jane or Slow Joe follow your heart and always have hope…

Hope i helped you out!! :slight_smile:

27wonka

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Don’t stop now - you have to build in the momentum that you have built up. No scene? MAKE ONE!!!