Break the clubs
Introduction
If you want to get regular deejay work in clubs it's all about getting to know the promoters and showing them your skills.
You've got to really know your music, be a wicked deejay and be prepared to give the crowd what they want.
Read on for:
Making contacts
Warm-up sets
Bringing a crowd
"Find your sound, push your sound and never give up!"
DJ Cameo
Making Contacts
By the time you've played at most of the small clubs and bars in your town, you should have made a name for yourself.
In fact if you've got the talent, a club promoter will come looking for you.
If deejaying in bars and small clubs isn't doing it for you, then it's time to step up a gear and make some new contacts.
If you go to a club regularly, you probably want to DJ there and your best way in is to really get to know the deejays and promoters.
At this level you really don't get booked off the back of sending in just a mix tape/CD. You need to get to know the mans dem.
"Hang out in the clubs you want to play at. Get your face known and party with the people."
Femme Fatale
Keeping Up Your Contacts
Once you've made the link don't just sit down and wait for it all to happen.
Keep talking to people and always be on the lookout to make new connections.
Stay on the case but don't stress people out.
It's a fine line, but if you are going to a club most weeks and talking to peeps, you'll soon know if they check for you (or avoid you).
You could try giving them new CDs every month. Doing mix tapes on the regs will also really sharpen your skills; if you get bookings you'll have to do different sets every week so get used to it.
Remember the world of deejaying is a network.
If there's no work going with your new promoter friend they could recommend you to someone else.
"Be on their case like a rash. Just keep giving them CDs 'til they're sick of you, 'til they're like, 'You know what? He's in, just for trying.'"
Dubplate Mex
Warm-up Set
Chances are your first club gig will be at the start of the night.
It's very important to make sure that you play a good set but also think about the night as a whole.
If you rinse out all the big tunes this early on you may upset the promoter, the crowd won't be up for it and if there's a name brand deejay on after you, they may not like it either.
If you want to stand out from the other deejays then maybe you could use the opportunity to spin some dub plate specials.
It's a great way to make people remember you and the promoter may give you ratings for blessing the night with some exclusives.
"Go to the club before you play there and see what the vibe is like. Make sure you come with a unique style because you can often be looser in warm up sets - it'll get people's attention."
Femme Fatale
Bringing a Crowd
One way to impress a promoter is to say you'll get people into the club early.
As you'll know, clubs are usually dead for the first hour so you might be asked to audition at the start of the night (where you cannot do any harm).
If you've got a big crew and you think the promoter's cool, ask if they can be put on a paying guest list.
This gets your people into the club for less money, the bar staff have something to do, and you might find it better than deejaying to an empty room.
"It's down to the individual really. Sometimes it's nice to roll 50 deep, but sometimes it's nice to be alone and be in your own little world."
DJ Bailey
More... from How to...
Buy DJ Kit
http://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/1xmusic/performing/djkitp01.shtml
Make a killer mix tape
http://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/1xmusic/performing/tapep01.shtml
Get taken on by a DJ agency
http://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/1xmusic/performing/djagencyp01.shtml
More... from the web
1Xtra: DJ Skully's Freestyle Video
http://www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/hiphop/skully.shtml
OneMusic: VJ
How to... VJ
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/onemusic/djing/vjp01.shtml
大象传媒i: Just The Job
DJing
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/justthejob/followyourdream/hits/k.shtml
More... from elsewhere
How To DJ (Properly) by Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton
Definitive book on DJing
Published by Bantam Press
(c) 大象传媒 1Xtra 1XMusic 2006