How to Find a Job As a DJ

Those who love the club scene realize the value of a good DJ. The DJ keeps the crowd moving and helps create an ambiance that will keep people coming back. DJs are also promoters in many cases, bringing in people that will buy alcohol and pay those door fees. Yet, it can be hard to land that first gig, much less a regular spot on the roster. As DJ Airek says in his HousePlanet.dj article, "You may have initially found that no one wanted you to DJ, but most everyone would have been happy to give you a job as a street promoter." Follow these tips from industry insiders to get yourself up to the turntables.

Things You'll Need

• Sample mix CDs
• List of potential parties
• Business cards
• Fliers
• Phone

Instructions

1. Make a professional, well-mastered demo CD. DJ David Sabat writes, "If you give someone a mix CD that has crashes on it, low quality sound, and out-of-key blends...you're leaving them with the impression that this is the best of your work." Break the CD into multiple tracks, label it clearly and keep things simple. Club owners and promoters get lots of demos, so make your professional product stand out.

2. Focus your efforts on the parties that best suit your music and taste. It's a waste of time to take your great EBM/Industrial mix to a club that plays drum n' bass, after all. Do research, attend parties and get a feel for whether the venue is right for you.

3. Keep an eye on the politics and players in the scene. DJ Airek points out that there may be a pecking order for jobs at any given club, which could make landing a gig there difficult. First dibs for openings may go to the support, or fill-in, DJs, followed by DJs from "the trenches": "This level is where most of the competition takes place for the guys or gals that are trying to get into the system. This is the level where everyone is trying to get noticed and hopefully booked for a gig."

4. Market to both promoters and club owners, with an emphasis on the former. "Getting to know owners means one relationship --one club. Getting to know promoters could mean one relationship - multiple clubs," Sabat says.

5. Have great marketing tools at your disposal. Business cards should be on hand at all times, as well as a flier for your next event. Stickers are also good for guerrilla marketing and hand-outs to clubgoers.

Tips & Warnings

• Always have your act together while looking for a DJ job. That means no drinking or outlandish behavior at a prospective client's club. Unprofessional behavior and lack of focus make a lasting impression on other people at the club, and the news will invariably get back to the owner or promoter.

References

• DJ Marketing 101: Breaking Into the Scene
• HousePlanet.DJ: How to Get DJ Gigs