Alex

I am interested in getting started.

Here's my limited background: I dabbled with my roomate's technics
1200s and extensive deep house collection while in college. I
developed a pretty good technique (no pun intended) and have the
basics down pretty good. Now that I am significantly older (pushing
30, AHH!) I would like to get into this as a part time job. Not in it
for the $$, I have a good-paying day job for that. I also live in an
area that would mostly not be interested in the underground music
scene, which is fine. If I end up playing for parties/weddings/dances
and using CDs instead of vinyl, that's fine by me, I'm flexible.
Basically, at this point, I am mostly interested in how to simply get
started.

Most of the other posts that I've read focused on buying equipment and
music, which I understand I need to do. But once I do that, how do I
"get the word out?" Do I look for work with an established
company/service? Do I start out on my own and basically charge peanuts
for my services? (again, the $$ is not really an issue to me). Do I
put an ad in the paper? ("Looking for a cheap DJ? Call me at..."). Do
I simply tell people? Do I make a demo tape? It is in this marketing
phase that I basically get lost in the process.

Any suggestions?

Recess

Hey,

I know this isn't the answer you were really wanting to hear, but here
it is.

d) all of the above.

If there was one way to make sure you'd secure work - we'd all be out
there working every night as DJ's. You need to make sure people know
you're either good, cheap, reliable, willing to wash dishes, or all of
that lot - and then you'll start to break in a little.

Now that everyone wants to be a DJ, you're fighting with SOOOO many
people who are trying to the same things as you. It's what you know,
it's who you know, it's how lucky you are, it's how hard you want it,
it's everything that'll piss you off - and it's everything you ever
imagined it could be.

Hope this helped.

C.ya
Recess
www.recess.co.uk


alexhlee@bceagles.com (Alex) wrote in message news:<cb0d84c1.0401191746.1455abce@posting.google. com>...
> I am interested in getting started.
>
> Here's my limited background: I dabbled with my roomate's technics
> 1200s and extensive deep house collection while in college. I
> developed a pretty good technique (no pun intended) and have the
> basics down pretty good. Now that I am significantly older (pushing
> 30, AHH!) I would like to get into this as a part time job. Not in it
> for the $$, I have a good-paying day job for that. I also live in an
> area that would mostly not be interested in the underground music
> scene, which is fine. If I end up playing for parties/weddings/dances
> and using CDs instead of vinyl, that's fine by me, I'm flexible.
> Basically, at this point, I am mostly interested in how to simply get
> started.
>
> Most of the other posts that I've read focused on buying equipment and
> music, which I understand I need to do. But once I do that, how do I
> "get the word out?" Do I look for work with an established
> company/service? Do I start out on my own and basically charge peanuts
> for my services? (again, the $$ is not really an issue to me). Do I
> put an ad in the paper? ("Looking for a cheap DJ? Call me at..."). Do
> I simply tell people? Do I make a demo tape? It is in this marketing
> phase that I basically get lost in the process.
>
> Any suggestions?

DopeHead

put an ad to a cheap newspaper, or town bulletin but never the "cheap DJ"
thing. In most cases cheap DJ = choppy job.
Personally I got 2 friends of mine who do exlusively marriage, birthday
parties. At the start they had no clients whatsoever, but if DJ a good
quality party with 100 participants then you got 100 possible clients out
there. So do not cock it up in the first couple of parties.
They told me the got it right for many reason: communication, smiley face
etc etc but top 2 reasons they mentioned were: good quality sound system and
good use of mic. They've gone so far with this marriage DJing thing (at the
time I used to kid them around) that one of them quit his job as a banking
marketing manager as he couldn't keep it up with the demand.
One more thing: even if $$ is not primary issue to u, never wave it up as
your winning flag. Offer your service at low prices but neve rmention it.
People love to feel like they got a bargain whe they get the best price
around, so let them enjoy that feeling.

my 2c
>
> Most of the other posts that I've read focused on buying equipment and
> music, which I understand I need to do. But once I do that, how do I
> "get the word out?" Do I look for work with an established
> company/service? Do I start out on my own and basically charge peanuts
> for my services? (again, the $$ is not really an issue to me). Do I
> put an ad in the paper? ("Looking for a cheap DJ? Call me at..."). Do
> I simply tell people? Do I make a demo tape? It is in this marketing
> phase that I basically get lost in the process.
>
> Any suggestions?

Alex

Thanks for the advice. Sounds like I'll just have to go in brute force
and sort of go for it. That was a good story about your bank friend.
Must have been making alot of $$ since he was able to quit his "real"
job.

Thanks again.

"DopeHead" <theraver at noos.fr> wrote in message news:<400d6603$0$22091$79c14f64@nan-newsreader-02.noos.net>...
> put an ad to a cheap newspaper, or town bulletin but never the "cheap DJ"
> thing. In most cases cheap DJ = choppy job.
> Personally I got 2 friends of mine who do exlusively marriage, birthday
> parties. At the start they had no clients whatsoever, but if DJ a good
> quality party with 100 participants then you got 100 possible clients out
> there. So do not cock it up in the first couple of parties.
> They told me the got it right for many reason: communication, smiley face
> etc etc but top 2 reasons they mentioned were: good quality sound system and
> good use of mic. They've gone so far with this marriage DJing thing (at the
> time I used to kid them around) that one of them quit his job as a banking
> marketing manager as he couldn't keep it up with the demand.
> One more thing: even if $$ is not primary issue to u, never wave it up as
> your winning flag. Offer your service at low prices but neve rmention it.
> People love to feel like they got a bargain whe they get the best price
> around, so let them enjoy that feeling.
>
> my 2c
> >
> > Most of the other posts that I've read focused on buying equipment and
> > music, which I understand I need to do. But once I do that, how do I
> > "get the word out?" Do I look for work with an established
> > company/service? Do I start out on my own and basically charge peanuts
> > for my services? (again, the $$ is not really an issue to me). Do I
> > put an ad in the paper? ("Looking for a cheap DJ? Call me at..."). Do
> > I simply tell people? Do I make a demo tape? It is in this marketing
> > phase that I basically get lost in the process.
> >
> > Any suggestions?

Mr T

What i did to get started was to offer to play for free during the week
(thursday) when no other DJ was playing. because it was relatively quiet it
helped me build my confidence and i wasnt afraid of amking a few mistakes.
i did this for a few months and then i started to get offered an odd nites
cover for the other DJ's who wanted the night off. i then got the
experience of playingin front og more people. i also asked the DJ at the
local note club if he wanted someone to do a warm up which he readily
agreed. i think you will find most established DJ's will be willing to let
you start for them cos they get the same amount of money for half the work.
The DJ at the local disco bar left and cos i was already playing there i
just walked into the job. no luck on the club front yet but it all takes
time. it is important to get to know the DJ's on the circuit which i will
admit is not always easy as they are protecting their interested as well.

in relation to vinyl vs CD's mu opinion on this is well documented. i
llllllllllooooooooovvvvvvveeeeee vinyl and i think every1 sound use this
medium. however due to a lot of reasons, i.e mainly cheap music, most dj's
in my area anyway use cds. you have to sit down and consider can i afford
decks and vinyl and also does the type of music i want to play come on
vinyl. if you are going to be play9ing britney, kylie or any other
commercial types, stick with cds. however if you want to do real club music
and get all the new toons first i would recommend vinyl.

good luck with whatever you choose.



> wrote in message news:cb0d84c1.0401191746.1455abce@posting.google.c om...
> I am interested in getting started.
>
> Here's my limited background: I dabbled with my roomate's technics
> 1200s and extensive deep house collection while in college. I
> developed a pretty good technique (no pun intended) and have the
> basics down pretty good. Now that I am significantly older (pushing
> 30, AHH!) I would like to get into this as a part time job. Not in it
> for the $$, I have a good-paying day job for that. I also live in an
> area that would mostly not be interested in the underground music
> scene, which is fine. If I end up playing for parties/weddings/dances
> and using CDs instead of vinyl, that's fine by me, I'm flexible.
> Basically, at this point, I am mostly interested in how to simply get
> started.
>
> Most of the other posts that I've read focused on buying equipment and
> music, which I understand I need to do. But once I do that, how do I
> "get the word out?" Do I look for work with an established
> company/service? Do I start out on my own and basically charge peanuts
> for my services? (again, the $$ is not really an issue to me). Do I
> put an ad in the paper? ("Looking for a cheap DJ? Call me at..."). Do
> I simply tell people? Do I make a demo tape? It is in this marketing
> phase that I basically get lost in the process.
>
> Any suggestions?

DopeHead

Indeed he is. Charging 300$ / 5 hours and having 5 days/ 7 booked no wonder
he decided to skip the "regular" job. He's using already his brother to fill
up the parties he can't go to. Anyways it's not heaven for everyone. There
are other guys who offer the same services as him but barely got a booked. I
think his communication skills learned on his banking experience, make him
sound much more serious and correct then the average teenager. You know
birthdays and marriages needs more this type of profile rather then the
regular club DJ.

"Alex" <alexhlee@bceagles.com> wrote in message
news:cb0d84c1.0401201821.1522ed41@posting.google.c om...
> Thanks for the advice. Sounds like I'll just have to go in brute force
> and sort of go for it. That was a good story about your bank friend.
> Must have been making alot of $$ since he was able to quit his "real"
> job.
>
> Thanks again.
>
> "DopeHead" <theraver at noos.fr> wrote in message
news:<400d6603$0$22091$79c14f64@nan-newsreader-02.noos.net>...
> > put an ad to a cheap newspaper, or town bulletin but never the "cheap
DJ"
> > thing. In most cases cheap DJ = choppy job.
> > Personally I got 2 friends of mine who do exlusively marriage, birthday
> > parties. At the start they had no clients whatsoever, but if DJ a good
> > quality party with 100 participants then you got 100 possible clients
out
> > there. So do not cock it up in the first couple of parties.
> > They told me the got it right for many reason: communication, smiley
face
> > etc etc but top 2 reasons they mentioned were: good quality sound system
and
> > good use of mic. They've gone so far with this marriage DJing thing (at
the
> > time I used to kid them around) that one of them quit his job as a
banking
> > marketing manager as he couldn't keep it up with the demand.
> > One more thing: even if $$ is not primary issue to u, never wave it up
as
> > your winning flag. Offer your service at low prices but neve rmention
it.
> > People love to feel like they got a bargain whe they get the best price
> > around, so let them enjoy that feeling.
> >
> > my 2c
> > >
> > > Most of the other posts that I've read focused on buying equipment and
> > > music, which I understand I need to do. But once I do that, how do I
> > > "get the word out?" Do I look for work with an established
> > > company/service? Do I start out on my own and basically charge peanuts
> > > for my services? (again, the $$ is not really an issue to me). Do I
> > > put an ad in the paper? ("Looking for a cheap DJ? Call me at..."). Do
> > > I simply tell people? Do I make a demo tape? It is in this marketing
> > > phase that I basically get lost in the process.
> > >
> > > Any suggestions?